Taunton Warriors vs Tor

On a wet and drizzly February afternoon the handful of Taunton supporters who followed the Warriors to Glastonbury saw a group of dedicated Taunton players grind out a well-deserved win.  Those supporters also were treated to 7 tries, 6 of which were converted by the Warriors team “hinge” player Connor Banks.  It was that commitment by Connor to wear a Taunton shirt, regardless of the team that has shown in the Warriors all season.   Michael Owen who started at prop and finished his game at number 8 burst through the centre on the 30-minute running from the opposition 10-metre line to score the second try.  The first had been scored after 15-minutes by Harrison Friday who, with little room on the right-hand touchline, was able to support a break by Wayne Sprangle and use his blistering pace to evade being tackled.  Wayne showed his commitment to the club by playing in the centre although having offered to play at prop if needed. This showed his pace, rugby brain and ball handling skills.  36 minutes and we then saw the skills of a very talented Freddie Elliot who, with pace and angles of running, went through the centre to score try number three.  Sadly, a few minutes later he had to leave the pitch with a torn hamstring which saw Connor Parker come on.  20 minutes before the start of the game a new look pack was learning the lineout call from Ben O-T who also was there showing that he is a clubman as well as a team player for each of the senior teams. Whilst we lost the first four of our lineouts our new Hooker Jock Wright soon got into the rhythm, and we did not lose any more.  Jock is most certainly a new find and his pace and drives around the pitch made his ability standout.  Towards the end of the game, he switched to prop.  Joe Prior the other prop certainly made his presence felt with some superb drives and scrummaging against a big Tor pack.  Taine Benson seems to be the quiet lock who just gets on with the game but playing alongside Ben O-T seemed to bring something out of him which helped to provide the platform for Henry Webb to use his pace and angles of running to score the fourth and bonus point try and give the Warriors a 28-points to nothing lead.  Henry also scored the fifth try when Niall Crouch who in previous games had been a stalwart in the centre, playing at outside half made a superb break to set up Henry to score.  This was Connor's only missed conversion of the afternoon.  On 60 minutes the ever-present wing Jack Connor went in for a try.  John Wrelton eventually managed to prize Michael Owen off of the field to give Liam Dray - who had sustained an injury the previous week - the last ten minutes of the game.  In order for him to go into hooker Jock Wright moved to prop.  After only two minutes on the pitch, he stole around the back of the maul and scored the Warriors' 7^th and final try.

Tor never looked like scoring, and this was largely down to the Warriors defence.  Brodie Sheach and Seth Findlay who have been the Warriors back row in many of the games were outstanding, both around the base of the scrum and in their covering across the field.  If I finish where I started and say how proud as a club, we are of these members who are sometimes in the Titans turning out and playing for the Warriors we must mention Joe Elsworth.  He went from number 8 into prop, he hooked, propped, and for the last ten minutes came back to number 8.  His commitment showed the pride that the coaching staff have given to these players to be Senior Club players first and foremost and to make sure that both teams always have a full team.  Whilst this has happened in this game it has been the case throughout the season.  Thank you to each and every one of you.

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Tor 0 Taunton Warriors 47

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