West Country Wills Match Preview Round 20 Cinderford vs Taunton Titans

With only seven fixtures to come, it really feels as though every game now has added importance for the National League Two West table. Realistically, Camborne have the title and promotion wrapped up, barring their remaining results falling off a cliff. The Cornishmen are six points clear of Clifton. Taunton Titans are a further five points back, sitting in third place having moved ahead of their opponents this Saturday, Cinderford. Last time out, in front of a bumper crowd at Veritas Park with 300 roast lunches having been served by Pat and his team, Titans subdued a physical Luctonians side, leading 21-10 at half-time with tries from Sam Leworthy, Dan Martin and Elvis Taione. Taunton forged further ahead in the second-half with tries from Ben Heath and Drew Humberstone contributing to a five-point victory. On a day when many former players came to lend their support, Reece Malone was awarded man of the match and there was a debut appearance off the bench for Oliver Wrelton, stepping up from the Warriors.  

This Saturday Titans travel to Cinderford, the Gloucestershire club, in the Forest of Dean. Their most recent game was away in the Duchy against Redruth where they ran their Cornish hosts very close but fell to a 17-10 defeat. With Cinderford’s defeat at Redruth, they lie in fourth places, three points behind Titans. The men from the Forest of Dean were, like Titans themselves, relegated from National One at the end of last season and, by dint of geography, both clubs find themselves in opposition once more a level lower.

When the Gloucestershire side visited Somerset in late October, Titans prevailed in a hard-fought encounter by 28-17. Tries on that occasion were scored by Joe Snow and a brace from Ratu Vakalutukali, added to by a try-of-the-season contender when from within Titans’ own 22, Ollie Devoto delayed a miss pass and opened up a gap for Toots who took the ball into the Cinderford half before kicking a deft grubber through for Oscar Kolowski to chase through and score.

Long-serving Director of Rugby Paul Morris stood down at the end of last season and Clive Stuart-Smith – a former half-back partner of Tony Yapp in his Exeter Chiefs days – is now Head Coach of ‘The Pride of the Forest’. He is assisted by Bristolian Jake Polledri, the former Gloucester back row forward who played 20 times for Italy before his career was cut short by injury. In recent times the likes of internationals Harry Williams (Exeter and England), Josh Adams (Worcester, Cardiff, Wales and British & Irish Lions), Freddie Burns (Leicester and England) and Sam Underhill (Bath and England) have represented Cinderford RFC.

Taunton Warriors also face opposition from Cinderford RFC, facing their 2^ndXV at Veritas Park.

Entrance at Cinderford to The Beavis Memorial Ground is £15.00 per adult for ground entry whilst Under 16s enjoy free entry when accompanying a paying adult. Dogs are strictly not allowed at the ground. Contact Donna Roberts on 01594 822673 or 07983 021786 for information about pre-match lunch options. Kick-off is at 3.00pm.  

Taunton resident and rugby lover, Richard Kitzinger writes content for Taunton RFC’s club website and match-day programmes. His day job is writing Wills and Lasting Powers of Attorney - he can be found at www.westcountrywills.co.uk or reached on 07504 991893.

‍