Titans edged out by Rams

TAUNTON Titans can count themselves unlucky after being narrowly beaten 27-24 by visiting Rams, who made it 11 wins out of 11 at the top of the National League One standings.

The Somerset side led 12-5 at one point in the first half thanks to tries from Charlie Wright and Isaac Dalton, although the Rams levelled by the break.

Dalton scored again after the turnaround to put Taunton 19-17 ahead, but the visitors then made it a two-score lead at 27-17.

Sam Knott narrowed the deficit late on, but the Rams held on to maintain their unbeaten record.

Elsewhere in the third tier, hooker Nathan Taylor scored a remarkable four tries to help hosts Cinderford rescue a 24-22 victory after seeing a 16-point lead evaporate.

Taylor scored three first-half tries to put the Foresters 19-3 up, but Stortford then ran in 19 more points of their own to take the lead. Taylor, however, earned victory for Cinderford late on.

In National League Two West, second-placed Clifton took a thumping 55-0 win over Newport, while Dings, in third, had to work harder for a 31-26 triumph in their West derby at Hornets.

The match between Old Reds and hosts Exeter University was postponed.