PLYMOUTH TITANS   67-36  SOMERSET VIKINGS

The Plymouth Titans bounced back from their poor showing at the South West Floodlit Nines with a big win over competition favourites the Somerset Vikings at a sunny Stonehouse Creek. The Titans ran in eleven tries and kickers Matt Anstis (8) and Billy Stockwell (3) had a perfect day with their boots converting all of the scores.

Lee Colton touched down in the right hand corner to open the scoring for the Titans, quickly followed by Billy Stockwell in the opposite corner as the home side started the game strongly before Micky Ferguson and Bradley Hart extended  the lead to 24-0 and a cricket score looked on the cards.

However, the Vikings were not taking their punishment without fighting back and Alex Chase reduced the arrears with a try wide out on the left, the missed conversion giving a 24-4 scoreline before Andy Hodges marked his debut with the Titans fifth try of the day with five minutes left before the break. There was still time though for the teams to exchange tries before the halftime whistle, josh Holder scoring for the Vikings and Matt Tichias coming off the interchange bench to send the teams into the shade of the trees for halftime at 36-10

Bradley Hart’s try two minutes into the second half, again converted from near the touchline by Matt Anstis,  strengthend the Titans hold on a game many predicted would be a tight affair but the points kept coming as Craig Williams touched down for the battling Vikings. Titans winger Ben Kirby was next to add his name to the scoresheet, racing around the Vikings defenders to dot the ball down under the crossbar but this sparked a mini fightback by the Somerset side with Paul Shepherd, Jason Wood and John Dewsnap scoring in a five minute burst which led to raised voices behind the Titans goal line as Matt Tichias tried to raise another effort from his team and hold the resurgent Vikings at bay.

Tichias himself bagged a four pointer under the posts and Matt Anstis added a field goal to stretch the lead to 55-30 but the Vikings replied through a Craig Williams try before Brad Hart completed his hat trick and Lee Colton sprinted in for his second to complete an unexpected 67-36 win for the hosts.

PLYMOUTH TITANS: Ian McCormack, Lee Colton, Kyle Browne, Brad Hart, Matt Anstis, Ben Kirby, Billy Stockwell, Simon Galloway, Micky Ferguson, Jack Martin, Declan O’Connell, Garreth Williams, Martin Browne, Matt Tichias, Andy Hodges, Declan Saxton, Lee Evans, Terry Burden, Rob Clench

Tries: Hart (3), Colton (2), Tichias (2), Stockwell, Ferguson, Kirby, Hodges Goals: Anstis (8 + FG), Stockwell (3)

SOMERSET VIKINGS: John Ferguson, Garreth Reid, Simon Wrighthider, Connor Crampton, Jason Wood, James Arnold, Chris Richards, Matt Howley, Craig Williams, Alex Chase, Paul Shepherd, John Gatford, Jamie Grant, Gary Hibbetson, John Dewsnap, Josh Holder, Chris Steer

Tries: Williams (2), Wood, Chase, Shepherd, Dewsnap, Holder Goals: Grant (4)

Half Time: 36-10                Referee: Melvin Bettridge