Taunton .............. 25pts Henley ................ 17pts Yapp hails Titans late show to down Hen

They left it late, however, as they trailed with 15 minutes remaining.

Hawks head coach Luke Allen said: “We went behind in the first half but fought back to take the lead and leave ourselves one score from a five-point win.

“But our inability to retain the ball and [miss] important tackles allowed Taunton to get the score that won it.

“We expected a very hard-fought tight game and that’s what we got.”

Tony Yapp, the Taunton head coach, said: “We were delighted with the win

“Henley are a very good side who started the season really well and, over the last two seasons ,have proved to be a bit of a bogey team for us.

“I thought our energy in attack and defence was excellent.

“Despite going behind with 15 minutes to go, I was really pleased with our control and willingness to keep playing and to regain the lead and see the game out."

Early on, after some good lead work, Taunton were awarded a penalty which Gary Kingdom - who would have a decisive impact on the game - put into the corner.

A superb line-out take by

Corry Teague started a drive to the line by the forwards, who were joined by the weight of the threequarters for a pushover try attributed to prop Isaac Dalton.

A similar penalty two minutes later for a high tackle saw an overthrow by Taunton for Henley to steal and go 50 metres before a last-ditch tackle prevented a try.

In successive scrums, Taunton gradually cleared their line to put some equilibrium into their game.

Henley then gained the ascendancy before knocking on to give the ball back to Taunton, who were rewarded with a penalty which Kingdom converted.

From the kick-off Taunton then pressured the Henley defence.

After a break through the middle by Freddie Fraser and some interplay by the forwards, Teague went over in the corner.

From the kick-off Taunton were soon in the Henley 22.

Henley worked their way back into the Taunton half with a penalty, but lost the ball from the line-out.

It was kicked to touch for kick to touch for a penalty which Kingdom put into the Henley 22.

Hawks won the line-out and were soon back on the Taunton line.

The play went back and forwards before a penalty to Henley put the ball back into the Taunton 22.

A rolling maul then saw Henley score close to the Taunton posts.

From the kick-off, Henley asserted their strength and won the ball to score in the corner.

From the kick-off, a catch and drive resulted in a try under the posts which Kingdom converted.

It looked like Henley had the initiative but, with a three on one, they knocked the ball on.

A collapsed scrum led to a Taunton kick to touch, a line-out and drive to the Henley line.

Henley gave away a penalty under the posts which Kingdom converted.

Henley tried to run the ball to claw their way back but referee James Milner brought the game to an end with the final whistle.