National League Two South

Barnes 27-35 Taunton Titans

THE Titans made it three wins out of three bonus-point wins out of three but were made to work hard for the five points by a dogged Barnes outfit.

Taunton started brightly, going through several phases from the kick-off making their way to the hosts try line but lost the ball five meters out.

Barnes then made their way up the pitch after the Titans gave away several soft penalties and were rewarded with a converted try, scored by winger Flynn Sager and converted by full-back Tom O’Toole before the 10 minute mark.

The home side increased their lead through a penalty kicked by O’Toole 10 minutes later, before the Titans got into the game with a try from captain Tom Popham.

Barnes scored another try through centre James Hersey before the Titans started to take control.

The visitors started to keep the ball for longer periods and took a more direct route with Sam Prior making inroads.

Fly-half Nathan Huntley’s ghosted through a gap to score his first try for the Titans, before centre Freddie Fraser ran one in from outside the Barnes 22, putting the ball down as soon as he crossed the line after his mistake at the beginning of the season.

This gave the Titans a slender two-point lead before, on the stroke of half time, prop Tom Claydon powered his way over to score the Titans bonus point try.

Full-back Gary Kingdom converted two of the 3 tries to give the Titans a 15- 24 lead at the break.

The first 10 minutes of the second half saw the Titans carry on where they left off with some powerful runs but the Barnes defence held firm and their only reward was a Kingdom penalty.

Barnes then closed the gap with a try from back row Tom Malaney with O’Toole adding the extras.

With the scores at 22-27, Kingdom increased the Titans lead with another penalty before scoring his fourth try in two weeks running one in from the 10-metre line to make the score 22-35.

The home side started to run everything trying to claim the bonus-point try and were rewarded when flanker Ciaran Smyth went over out wide.

The conversion was missed which denied the hosts a second bonus points which after their hard work they deserved.

The Titans have some sterner tests to come and will need to tighten up their penalty count and their lineout to compete with the other teams at the top of the table but, after three games, they are top of the league.