Titans head to historic Bristol club, Clifton, chasing a sixth consecutive league win.

Following a weekend off, action resumes this Saturday in National League Two with Taunton Titans heading to Clifton. Titans sit in second place in the table courtesy of a five-game winning streak. In their most recent match the pride of Somerset earned a bonus point victory over Cinderford, skipper Ratu ‘Toots’ Vakalutukali scoring two tries and being instrumental in another, picked out by Ollie Devoto deep in the Taunton half weaving a path through the Foresters’ defence before kicking ahead for Oscar Kolowski to fall on the ball beyond the line. Victory was tempered somewhat by the knowledge that free-scoring wing Rocky Prowse is unlikely to play again before his departure overseas as he has broken his wrist playing in a friendly for Exeter Chiefs although he played the full 80 minutes and scored a couple of tries. Also heading abroad are Harry Wright, the popular second row forward moving to Australia for a couple of years, and Devoto whose departure to Chicago Hounds was announced following the Cinderford win.

This Saturday’s opponents, Clifton, are in sixth spot in the division. A famous old name in West Country rugby, Clifton won their last fixture, away at Redruth where they came out on top in a high-scoring encounter, 47-64. Full back Alex Kilbane crossed the whitewash twice and is on red-hot form with seven tries in his last three games.

Clifton is Bristol's oldest club, and one of the oldest in the world. Clifton Rugby Club was formed on 27 September 1872 at the Kings Arms on Blackboy Hill in Clifton, Bristol. Both pub and club are still going strong. Amongst their alumni are front row internationals Ellis Genge, Mark Regan and Mako Vunipola as well as Callum Sheedy of Wales and Italy’s Callum Brailey. Taunton Titans know Clifton well from their previous stay in National League Two. The current Head Coach of Clifton is former Bristol captain, Matt Salter, who also bridged the rugby codes and played league for London Broncos.

Clifton play at Station Road which is close to the Cribbs Causeway junction of the M5 and requires a slightly awkward right turn across traffic into a suspiciously innocuous looking entrance. If you are using your Satnav or sending a thank you note, the postcode is BS10 7TB. There is a pre-match roast beef and trimmings lunch available from 1pm for £25 per head which includes the £10 entrance fee for the match, bookable by clicking this link.

The game is a double-header with Taunton Warriors also travelling up the M5 to play Clifton. Warriors’ last fixture was away at Bridgwater and Albion. It had been a long time between drinks for these two old foes and although our near neighbours scored 28 points, they were never close to Warriors who posted a phenomenal 87. Things couldn’t be tighter though between Warriors and Clifton IIs. Warriors are third in the table, one place higher than Clifton by dint of a superior points difference.

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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