Titans continue perfect start

The Taunton Titans continued their 100% start to this National Two South season, after seeing off Barnes on Saturday. Even more impressive is the fact that all three wins have come with bonus points as an added extra. A great start for the side from Hyde Park.

Bishops Stortford kept up the pace with a win at Cinderford, whilst Chinnor and Redruth's unbeaten records went on the line at Kingsey Road. This weekend also saw wins for Bury St Edmunds, Old Elthamians and first wins for Canterbury and London Irish Wild Geese, who beat their newly promoted rivals Exmouth at Hazelwood.

Elsewhere, Henley Hawks got their first win at this level following relegation from National One in May.

Barnes 27-35 Taunton Titans

Taunton Titans made it three wins out of three bonus point wins as they saw off the challenge of Barnes in an entertaining National Two South game which featured nine tries.

Tom Popham, Nathan Huntley, Freddie Fraser and Tom Claydon all touched down as the Titans took a 25-14 lead into half-time at Queen Elizabeth Walk.

Barnes fought hard in the first period scoring two tries of their own through Flynn Sager and James Hersey and did close the gap to five points when Tom Malaney crossed the whitewash only after a Gary Kingdom penalty from Taunton.

With the score at 27-22, Kingdom increased his side’s lead running in his fourth try in two weeks to give Taunton some breathing space in this contest.

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

Cinderford 15-22 Bishops Stortford

Bishops Stortford continued their superb start to the season as they came from behind to clinch victory away at Cinderford.

Tries from Sam Goatley and Jimmy Williams as well as five points from the boot of James Moffat gave Cinderford a 15-3 lead, with Tom Banks responding with a penalty for Stortford.

However, the turning point in the game came just before half-time was an interception from Storford’s James Apperley. This led to Johnny Neville going over to help to reduce his side’s deficit to just five points at the break.

Neville then made the game all square with his second try of the match as Banks hit the upright with his conversion, but Stortford then went in front when Nick Hankin touched down under the posts.

Banks slotted the extras to give Stortford a seven point lead and ultimately seal the win for Andy Long’s side.

Chinnor 21-5 Redruth

Chinnor once again signalled their ambitions for this National Two South season as a professional display saw them defeat Redruth.

A tight first half saw the hosts open up a 14-0 advantage thanks to two tries courtesy of Henry Lamont and Nathan Hanna as Redruth failed to muster up a reply.

Redruth improved after the break, but couldn’t make their early second half pressure count as the Chinnor defence held firm.

The hosts then ultimately wrapped up the win when Jon Phipps dotted down to make it 21-0 while Shaun Buzza crossed 13 minutes from time for the visitors’ only points of the afternoon.

Old Elthamians 46-19 Clifton

The Old Elthamians maintained their unbeaten start with an entertaining win against Clifton at their new home of College Meadow.

Tries from Hamish Barton, Dominic Lespierre, Truman Sullivan, Ollie Claxon and Harry Ledger helped the hosts into a comfortable 32-0 lead at the break as Clifton just couldn’t make inroads into this game.

Dave Wheeler’s try got Clifton off the mark for the afternoon on 58 minutes before Neil James added their second moments later.

Scores from James Golledge and Gavin O’Merea, as well as 11 points from the boot of Tom White increased the OE’s lead to 46-12 before an Ian Clark consolation try for Clifton three minutes from the end.

Bury St Edmunds 20-10 Worthing Raiders

Worthing Raiders slipped to their first defeat of the season as they were beaten by Bury St Edmunds away from home.

Both of Bury’s tries came in the first half as Jacob Bodkin and Sam Sterling both crossed while Liam McBridge kicked seven points to give the hosts a 17-3 lead at the break.

Mathew McLean struck back for Worthing midway through the second half only after waves of pressure were knocked back by the 14-man Bury defence following Darren Gillespie’s yellow card.

McLean converted his own try and the Raiders were now within a score of their hosts, but McBridge kept his cool and slotted over another three points to easy the nerves around The Haberden as Bury shut the game out.

Barnstaple 26-43 Canterbury

Canterbury secured their maiden win of the season thanks to this victory over Barnstaple on Saturday.

The City Men were on course for a bonus point by the break as tries from Max Cantwell and Sam Rogers as well as six points from the boot of Martyn Beaumont helped them into a 16-7 lead.

Linford Ford scored the only try for Barnstaple who actually began the game as the stronger side..

Tom Rogers notched up Canterbury’s third try of the afternoon two minutes after the interval and although Matt Hague scored from close range for the hosts, Sam Kenny’s try saw the visitors maintain their comfortable advantage.

Full-back Aiden Moss created a try for Harry Sayers who made no mistake to give Canterbury a 40-14 lead just after the hour.

But Barnstaple weren’t giving up the fight just yet as Luke Berry and Ryan Carter clinched the try bonus-point for the home side before Canterbury had the last word as Beaumont knocked over a straightforward penalty.

Redingensians 22-26 Henley Hawks

George Jackson guided Henley Hawks to their first win of the season since relegation from National One as he kicked 16 points in this victory over the Redingensians.

Hawks’ tries came from George Lane and Stuart Philpott, with Jackson on song all afternoon despite Henley trailing this encounter at half-time.

Sean McDermottroe and Phil Hoy crossed for Redingensians with Jack Rossiter going over in the second period for the hosts.

Jacob Atkins kicked seven points, but the Redingensians had to settle for a losing bonus point at Old Bath Road.

Exmouth 20-40 London Irish Wild Geese

London Irish Wild Geese got their first win of the season and did so in style as they ran in six tries against fellow newly-promoted side Exmouth.

Irish went ahead thanks to try from England Counties’ Seb Rodwell before Tom Richards, George Owen and Ryan Bifield all went over to extend their lead.

Exmouth could only reply with two George Meadows penalties in the first period, but they scored their first try of the afternoon when Henry Goldson touched down. Meadows added another penalty to reduce Irish’s lead to six points, but a yellow card to the hosts saw the visitors pile on the pressure which resulted in a Penalty Try which Ben Kitching converted.

Tyler Bush then completed the win for London Irish Wild Geese as he went over late on.