Taunton Titans are at home again this weekend (Saturday 29th 15:00) when they host visitors Southend, which this week is sponsored by Jelf Insurance Brokers. Taunton only have 4 more National 2 South league games this season 3 at home and 1 away. This will be once again another tough test for the Titans as another challenger comes along to try and break their unbeaten home record.
Last time out the Titans came back from a 0 – 24 deficit to claim the draw to stay unbeaten against Bishop’s Stortford who were one place above them at the time. This weekend Southend are only one place below Taunton in the league and the last fixture between the two teams at the end of November last year was a try fest with the score 33 – 44 in Taunton’s favour so Southend will be after revenge. However the Titans shouldn’t need a lot of motivation for this game as it was Southend who were the last team to have beaten Taunton Titans in the league at Hyde Park in the game at the end of the extended season on the 4th May.
Head Coach Tony Yapp knows it isn’t going to be easy ‘We know Southend are a very good side and on their day can beat anyone in the league. The game up at their place was tough and in the end we held on with only 14 men as they tried to get back in the game. There were plenty of tries that day and hopefully the game this weekend with both teams virtually safe for the season can be a great game with no real pressure on either team.’
There are a few changes from last weeks defeat away to Cornish All Blacks. George Cooper comes back into the front row replacing Mark Manton, Paul Davis moves from the bench to start at 6. Toots Vakalutukali this week start at 13 with the impressive Nick Mason ruled out for a few weeks with a broken hand sustained in last weeks game. Ash Harney starts on the wing instead of Matt Roberts.