Heald: ‘We anyone on can beat our day’
NEWLY-promoted Barnes shot off the blocks in imperious form to claim a memorable win in a 13-try thriller at Barn Elms.
Seven tries including two each from No.8 Alex Hind and full-back Tom O’Toole saw the home side grab their fourth win on the bounce and their first bonus-point win since the opening day of the season, rising into the top half of the table for the first time this season.
Meanwhile, Titans’ biggest loss of the campaign, crystallised by losing a second bonus- point in the final play, means the Somerset-side slip behind Henley in the table. Barnes coach Jack Heald said: “We’re really pleased and played a very good game of rugby in the first half. In the second half we weren’t as dominant as we’d have liked which let them back in.
“Our defensive emphasis dropped off as they had more possession. Taunton have been a top-end team in this division for a long time and they showed it in the second half so to come away with this win shows where we’ve come and we can beat anyone.”
Favourites Taunton Titans were caught offguard by a sparkling start from Barnes, and Hind finished a catch-and-drive move on five minutes.
Titans struggled with illdiscipline throughout the first half, and after a great run by Hind before centre Matt Cornish split in between two opposing defenders, a high tackle meant fly-half Josh Hammett added three points.
Two minutes later and Hind and Robbie Martey showed some off-piste running play to open up O’Toole to run in a try in the corner.
Max Norey was binned in the 33rd minute for a technical foul, letting Hammett score from the boot
before well-worked lineout to lock Ryan Seabright allowed the playmaker to score under the posts at the end of the half. However, within minutes of the restart Titans’ hooker Chris Francis scrambled over the whitewash.
But both sides threw caution to the wind, Taunton’s blindside Ratu Vakalutukali cascaded past three players before losing the ball and Hind running in for the bonus point.
Titans No.8 Jarrard Hayler and centre Nic Mason broke Barnes’ line for wing Noah Sixton to dot down by the touch line.
Hayler scored minutes later before Barnes’ skipper Jamie Collins’ solo effort seemed crucial in halting the fightback.
Hayler got his second before a lost lineout allowed Barnes’ Martey to sprint to the line. Titans’ replacement Dan Lee then scored left of the posts.
Sixton’s second brought the away side within a converted score but O’Toole nicked the ball to classily rule that out in the final play. Taunton head coach Tony Yapp said: “We were sloppy in the first half and Barnes took their opportunities. To go 25 points down was a big ask, we scored 38 but our defence suffered and Barnes clinically stayed too far ahead.”