West Country Wills Match Preview Round 8 Taunton Titans vs Cinderford

When the team selection was posted on Friday lunchtime, Titans fans could be forgiven for fearing the worst from a tough away assignment at Luctonians without first-team regulars such as the unavailable Sam Prior, Ollie Devoto and Ben Oliphant-Thompson. To have triumphed in Herefordshire – and in the process denied even a losing bonus point to the second-placed hosts – is a mark of the momentum being built by this Taunton squad. It’s a fourth consecutive victory and keeps Tony Yapp’s men in touch with the top of the table.

This weekend the Titans welcome familiar foes to Veritas Park. Saturday’s visitors are Cinderford. 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 last visited Somerset in April, National One survival was still on the line and Taunton triumphed in the third of a run of four wins to close the season. The game was a humdinger in front of a crowd of nearly 1400 with the score line, 37-31, reflecting how much was at stake for both clubs. Louie Sinclair had a stellar game with the boot, Sam Leworthy gave another accomplished try-scoring performance in the second row and winger Oscar Stewart scored a brace of tries, including a memorable coast-to-coast individual special.

Having begun the season with successive defeats, Cinderford arrive in Somerset sitting in second place in the league table and on a run of five straight wins themselves. That puts them three places – but only one point – above Titans. Last Saturday they enjoyed a narrow victory over visiting Redruth by 23-19. Fly-half Luke McMahon has been in good form from the kicking tee and, with 82 points, is in first place in the divisional leading points scorers table. Cinderford is also ranked second equal amongst the leading points scorers away from home this season with 114 to date.

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 backrow 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.

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Taunton RFC will welcome new Sponsors to the club JMT Plastering who will be having their first game as the matchday sponsors. JMT having become a platinum sponsor of TRFC. As well as being matchday sponsors you will see them feature on the players after match polos as well as ground advertising and sponsoring Taunton Titans captain Ratu Vakalutukali. We hope that all JMT and their guests have a fantastic day at Veritas Park.

In Counties 1 Tribute Western North, fourth-placed Taunton Warriors head to near neighbours Bridgwater and Albion who will be looking to make their home advantage pay in this derby fixture in order to move away from the wrong end of the table where they lie in tenth out of the twelve sides. Warriors overcame Chosen Hill Former Pupils Rugby Football Club last Saturday 57-31 at Veritas Park.

Kick-off for Titans against Cinderford at Veritas Park is at 3pm. Entry is £15 for adults and free for Under-16s. Parking at Veritas Park on Hyde Lane costs £5. Get your booking in for the fabulous two-course pre-match carvery upstairs in the clubhouse. It is still an absolute bargain at just £25 per head. To book please contact the club office on 01823 336363. For those turning up for kick-off, there will be hot pasties and coffees from the Proper Cornish pasty van and there will be three bars open.

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.

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