It looks like we started well in the first half, held them for twenty - two minutes, opened the scoring and continued to lead then slipped a little in the few minutes before the half time whistle, after the break Taunton slowly gained control. Read on.

Some quick notes taken from the Taunton Twitterer, obviously none of our scorers’ names, though I assume Sam Brown kicked the conversion.
We opened the scoring on twenty-two minutes with a converted try to make it 0-7. Taunton’s Tom Putt picked up a penalty two minutes later to make it 3-7. On twenty minutes we got an unconverted try 3-12. After twenty-five minutes we were 3-12 up, ten minutes on we were still 3-12 up with five minutes to go till half-time. Just before half-time Taunton come back with a try and a conversion to make it 10-12, it was scored by one of our colts, I think, Israel Akinrowo. Right on the whistle for the break they get another seven-pointer after Gabe Mead, a forward, went over from a maul to make it 17-12 at half-time.
A decent start for us being on top for most of the first half.

Into the second half and three minutes in another Taunton try and conversion after a long run in by Freddie Elliott. 24-12.
Four minutes later another Taunton try was run in this time by Ben Parsons, no conversion. 29-12.
On minute fifty-one we score a third try but the conversion was missed. 29-17.
Three minutes later Tom Putt puts over a penalty for Taunton to take the score to 32-17.
On minute sixty-six another Taunton try with a conversion. 39-17.
Two minutes later it looks like Harrison Connick collected a yellow card.
Six minutes on and a further try to Taunton by Will Holmes who seemed to have dodged the defenders to run in and score. Tom Putt converts. 46-17.
Unfortunately, just before the final whistle Taunton score a final seven points to end the game at 53-17.
Our scorers; Harrison Coonick, Spud McFarlane and Mike Rickard. kicks by Sam Brown.

1. Josh Martin.
2. Rob Walsh.
3. James McFarlane.
4. Lewis Woolaway.
5. Mike Rickard (VC).
6. Archie Gray.
7. Liam Jarvis (VC).
8. Jake Bond.
9. Henry Clement.
10. Sam Brown. (C).
11. Harrison Coonick.
12. George Pooley.
13. Henry Glidden.
14. Tom Davies.
15. Charlie Groves.
16. Oli Symons.
17. Cal Arnold.
18. Finn White.
19. Ben Sharpe.
20. Billy Orchard.
TR. Ethan Hilland.
Head coach. Ben Russell.

3s report.
The Rectory on a rather warm afternoon, a friendly with Topsham III who we will be playing later in the Devon merit table.

Unfortunately no-one kept the run of scorers, apart from two. The scorers will be listed at the end
The start couldn’t have been worse, after six minutes of jousting, we were on half way and attacking through the threes when a thoughtless pass was intercepted and they ran it under the crossbar, the ball carrier was chased but just got there first. The conversion went over and they were 0-7 up.
However, shortly afterwards we scored a seven pointer of our own. Issac Venner converted. 7-7.
From then till half time we were well in control and playing impressively well with the back running and supporting well, and they forward frequently running with the back or on the own account.
On twelve minutes, we scored again at the corner by the turnstiles. It came from a messy scrum to us where we were under a little pressure. Billy Sutton had a good run to get the move going, then good hands to get just in front of the posts. We won a penalty and tapped and went wide and over the line. The conversion missed. 7~12.

Topsham came back and got themselves to our line but gave away a penalty that we kicked out for a line out.
On twenty-three minutes and they were held up over our line, we won the scrum and drove out then kicked for the sideline.
Twenty-seven minutes and a scrum to them where it was our turn to put on the pressure but they scrambled the ball away.
On thirty minutes a penalty to us and we went for a line out in their twenty-two, we took the ball and mauled neatly towards their line, they briefly stopped up but then we restarted and on over the line with Cole Page and Sam Winfield with the ball, for Sam Winfield to make the touch down. The conversion missed.7-17.
From the restart Sam Winfield took the ball and gave it to hooker Alex Lynch who made good ground then gave it to the backs, one took it on getting to halfway, he off loaded it to a fellow back who made it close to the posts, tacked, he gave it to whoever started the move, who dived under the crossbar to score. The conversion by Issac Venner went over.
7-24.
Right on half time, Topsham had a penalty and went for the line out, won and attacked through the backs, the centre had to reach back for the pass and knocked on, one of our backs picked it up, slipped the defenders and ran in to dive theatrical under the cross bar, the Issac Venner conversion went over.31~7 and half time.

The second half was completely different. From a position where we were completely controlling the game to coming close to being beaten.
Topsham scored inside two minutes, they kicked long, our winger jumped in the air to keep it in but was adjudged out, so they had the line out that they won. The ball went to a replacement back who handed off one defender and ran smoothly in about half way out from the posts by the turnstiles, the conversion missed. 31~12.
Six minutes and another Topsham try from a scrum on the stand side went to their backs then to their wing, two feeble shirt grabbing tackles were easily beaten and he scored under the crossbar, the conversion went over. 31~19.
Topsham were on a roll.
A line-out to them on our ten yard line went quickly to the backs, the player who came on at half time and scored, scored again, very fast and with a very knowledgeable line, avoided the defenders and ran diagonally towards the line to score, fortunately the conversion missed. 31~24 on eleven minutes.
Nineteen minutes and another try to Topsham. Scrum in our twenty-two on the turnstile side, the ball went across to the middle, they went for the line which we defended, the ball went on to the winger who, with two defenders hanging on, was strong enough to drag them over the line to score.
Again, fortunately for us, the conversion missed. 31~29.
“We are on course to lose this game” I said to myself.
That thought must have stung us and we suddenly stared to play again.
From a scrum, on twenty one minutes, the ball went to the backs, an all hands move ended with Sam Winfield, who went for the line, was stopped six feet out but had the strength to restart and drive over with defenders all over him. The Issac Venner conversion went over. 38-29.
Some breathing space and hopefully the belief in ourselves to carry on as we started.
On the half hour, we had worked up to their line with a good kick ahead, won a penalty and tapped and sent to ball towards the stand side, school end, Billy Sutton ,I think, did a neat chip for the corner. I slapped my forehead “No “ I said “Keep the ball in hand” I had visions of it going dead or straight into touch.
I as wrong the winger caught it and scored and even better, the Issac Venner conversion from the side line went over. 45~29.
With ten minutes to go I was confident we had won.
Topsham had the last word, too late, but scored after running the ball across our line then straightening up and over, the conversion missed. 45-34.
The final whistle went shortly afterwards.
We had savaged a game where were gold plated winners, near to being beaten but saved ourselves by pulling it together just in time.

When we were playing well, which we were most of the time, we looked very good, both forwards and backs, passing and support was excellent, we were on the ball quickly and many times the Topsham ball carrier was stopped by more that one tackler, and the running lines good

The scorers were; Sam Winfield x 2, Issac Verner x 2, Ethan Williams, Will Pooley, James Thorpe.
Issac Verner conversions x 5.
Team manager. Steve Hilland.

The Team.
!. Sam Winfield.
2. Alex Lynch.
3. Mike Kelly.
4. Will Pooley.
5. Charlie Newcombe.
6. Ethan Hilland.
7. Cole Page.
8. James Thorpe.
9. Billy Sutton.
10. Issac Venner.
11. Brad Lumley.
12. Tom Owens.
13. Neo Rushton-Ley.
14. Kaff Simakoloyi.
15. Ethan Williams.
16. Jason Money.
17. Alfie Smith.
18. Skull Karikaritu.