National League 1: Taunton Titans 22-20 Darlington Mowden Park

TAUNTON Titans bounced back with a win on Saturday (March 23) playing at home against Darlington Mowden Park.

The match in the National One Rugby division ended 22-20 to the Titans in front of a busy Veritas Park.

It was Taunton's first win in their last five attempts however they remain on the bottom of the league table with three games remaining.

In the match, Mowden started the better of the two sides and were over in the 10th minute for what they thought was the opening try.

However the referee ruled it to be a knock on and awarded Taunton a scrum on their own 5 metre line.

This didn't stop the visitors momentum though and they did open the scoring for an unconverted try in the 16th minute when Liam Checksfield dived over out wide.

Shortly after Max Fraine was shown a yellow card and Darlington were down a player which Taunton made the most of.

Oliver Massy-Birch was played in out wide to cross for an equalising try but it to went unconverted and the scores remained level at 5-5.

Darlington bounced back on 30 minutes with a try from Oscar Usher which was also unconverted but the visitors were back in front.

As the half drew to a close, Taunton had good field position and Joesph Elsworthy forced his way over with the last play of the half, right under the posts.

Frankie Dart added the extras and Taunton went in 12-10 up at half time.

The second half started off with a penalty conversion for Darlington as Callum Pascoe put his side back in front, 12-13.

On 54 minutes Charlie Wright was shown a yellow card for the Titans leaving them with just 14 on the pitch.

Right at the end of his 10 minutes in the bin, Darlington went further in front as Checksfield crossed for his second try of the afternoon. It was converted by Pascoe and the score was 12-20.

The match looked as though it would fizzle out in defeat for the Titans as the clocked ticked closer to 80 minutes.

However, showing true fighting spirit, the Titans had other plans.

In the 78th minute, Oscar Stewart finished off a great team move out wide to score what looked like a consolation try. Dart converted and the score was 17-20 with two minutes to play.

From the kick off, Taunton worked the ball up the other end of the pitch and veteren hooker Elvis Vaea Taione forced his way over the line to see Taunton in front, 22-20.

Taunton Titans: Frankie Dart, Oliver Massy-Birch, Deago Bailey, Joesph Elsworthy, Oscar Stewart, Daniel Martin, Connor Banks, William Vaughan, George Gosling, Isaac Dalton, Samuel Leworthy, Charlie Rice, Benjamin Oliphant-Thompson, Charlie Wright, Ratu Vakalutukali.

Subs: Vaea Taione, Brian Ncube, Samuel Prior, Harry Wright, Louis Sinclair.