Titans in seventh heaven at derby triumph

Clifton .............. 42 Taunton .......... 48

WITH a playing history going back more than a century, this has always been a West Country derby to savour and this was no exception with 90 points and 13 tries in a match won by Taunton.

They started brightly and took just 20 minutes to open a three-try, 21-0 lead with tries from back row Jarrard Hayler and two from centre Nick Mason.

The match’s star player, Will Pomphrey, scored the first of his three tries to start the Clifton scoreboard ticking but the Titans hit straight back with two scores in five minutes from Sam Brown and Oliver Rice.

Titans led 33-7 and halftime was looking bleak but Pomphrey scored his second and Brad Barnes added his second conversion on the stroke of half-time to cut the deficit for the home side.

The second half saw a resurgent Clifton score three more tries from Pomphrey, Chris Rovery and Henry Harper, all converted by Barnes.

However Taunton managed to find their sixth try from Freddie Fraser to put them 38-28 to the good with 15 minutes remaining.

Pomphrey scored his hat-trick try in response on 70 minutes, converted by Barnes and the score was 38-35.

Hayler and Sam Goatley then crossed for converted scores for each side before Brown sealed the win with a final kick of the match to cap a sensational afternoon of rugby.