SOMERSET VIKINGS 28-14 PLYMOUTH TITANS

 Lapses in their goal line defence proved costly as the Plymouth Titans returned from Taunton still looking for an away victory against the Somerset Vikings after four attempts.

The Vikings opened the scoring after five minutes when Chris Richards wriggled over near the posts following a period of sustained pressure by the Titans.  Despite forcing a line drop out following Matt Anstis’ grubber kick, the kick was fumbled and Somerset capitalised on the error, winning the scrum and making good yardage. Indiscipline by the visitors gave Vikings two penalties and from the second Richards gained his four pointer.

The Vikings added another try in similar fashion against the run of play, capitalising on an error when the Titans winger was bundled into touch on the first tackle. The Titans were forced to defend four sets in a row and finally the dam broke with Mark Lees scooting over from dummy half to extend their lead to 12-0.

Strong runs from Paul Cioffi and Martin Browne forced the Vikings backwards and the Titans pressure told as Gaz Williams was stripped of the ball in a three man tackle and four tackles on from the free kick it was Williams who scored under the posts to give Anstis an easy conversion attempt to close the deficit to 12-6.

Both sides forced errors from their opposition as the game moved from end to end with scoring chances at either end but it was the Vikings who scored next, lazy Plymouth defence allowing Richards to scythe through the line and almost score. Fine cover defence from Ben Kirby halted his progress but it only delayed the inevitable and the ball was fed wide for the Vikings to score in the corned and turn around 16-6 up at the break.

Somerset were soaking up relentless Titans pressure as the second half opened but it was the hosts who scored when, following James Hannaford’s sin binning for a high tackle, made the most of the man advantage, throwing  the ball around and finally crossing the line to the left of the posts, the goal giving them a 22-6 lead.

Titans fought back though with Kyle Browne bursting through a gap in the Vikings defence and finding his brother Martin on the right flank, the former England Lionheart racing 30 metres to score the first of his two tries.

Play still moved quickly from end to end giving the Titans hope of reducing the 12 point gap but those hopes were dashed when Lees dived over from dummy half to secure the points, the goal from right in front of the posts stretching the Vikings lead to 28-10. A re-run of the previous Browne brothers try made the scoreline a little more respectable, Martin latching on to Kyle’s offload to score near the right hand corner flag and end the scoring at 28-14.

Coach Rob Stockwell was philosophical after the game, taking positives and negatives from the defeat. “Billy Stockwell’s distribution from hooker was outstanding as was Matt Anstis’ tactical kicking.  At times we played some good attacking rugby league but our defence let us down in this one”