Some wonderful running rugby instead of the usual attritional fare

Taunton replied to the kick-off with an up-and-under; Barnes got the ball then lost it after recycling twice. The visitors soon went wide and their fullback broke through after the third recycle. This was followed by a scrum for the home team 16 metres inside their half. From that they chipped through the line and regained; yards were made then 2 after 4 more recycles Taunton were penalised 12 metres out. The kick was for a line-out 5 metres out and after that the drive was held. Barnes recycled twice to put no. 8 Hind over wide out at 4 minutes. The fly-half converted with 45o angle kick.

Barnes regained their near-vertical up-and-under after the restart; they advanced twice with 5 phases before being turned over. The visitors kicked to touch having taken the ball back into their 22 giving their opponents a line-out just inside the 22. Five close recycles resulted in a penalty against Taunton; again Barnes kicked for a line-out, less than 6 metres out. That resulted in an attacking scrum at the same place. Barnes kept the ball close and after 5 close recycles the defence forced an error to get their put-in 9 metres out then a penalty at the scrum. Taunton's kick took them to 20 metres from halfway and from the line-out they recycled 5 times before using an up-and-under. Ruddock on the wing for Barnes ran the ball back and started the first sequence of phases with the backs involved. This included a half-break by the other wing and the fullback feeding Ruddock then a chip through was nearly regained before the visitors were penalised 14 metres inside their half. The kick for the line-out went into touch 14 metres then Taunton stole the line-out. They used an up-and-under then won a turnover and broke out well with 6 phases before a speculative wide pass went into touch. A perhaps overconfident Barnes threw a quick line-out and ran only to put themselves under pressure as an error gave the visitors a scrum 20 metres into their opponents half. From that Taunton put together a good set of 11 mostly close phases before being penalised 8 metres out.

Barnes kicked to touch 11 metres from halfway then kept the ball in from the line-out before a break from their scrumhalf set the no. 8 clear. After 6 recycles an error by the defence gave Barnes a scrum 15 metres out. From that they released to centre and advanced then recycled 3 times to get a penalty 5 metres out in front of the posts after 22 minutes and fly-half Hammett took the points. Another run from their no. 8 after the high restart then a show and go from him made more ground then one recycle wide sent wing Martey through the line to pass to the fullback who touched down halfway out at 25 minutes. The conversion missed.

Barnes soon used an up-and-under from the restart; Taunton got the ball and kept it for 11 phases, several going wider, to get a penalty at the opposition 10 metres line. They kicked for a line-out just past the 22 then had their line-out stolen. Barnes cleared to touch at their 10 metre line; the visitors released to their backs from the line-out and were then penalised and sent 10 metres further back. The kick took Barnes to 29 metres out and from the line-out they put together good 11 phases to get a penalty 13 metres out at centre field and a man advantage for 10 minutes. Hammett kicked the points at 33 minutes. After the restart and some kicks Barnes kept the ball for 8 phases before kicking again. Taunton tan wide but soon into touch 11 metres in their half. After the line-out the fly-half saw open space in front of him and ran unopposed to the posts then converted before the halftime whistle.

Barnes replied to the second half restart with an up-and-under; the visitors ran the ball for 11 phases before their opponents forced an error and got the ball then immediately kicked for territory. Taunton then, after recycling twice, got a penalty and a man advantage for 10 minutes. The kick took them to just past halfway and from the line-out they advanced recycling 5 times before a near intercept resulted in another penalty 18 metres into the opposition half. The kick took them to 6 metres out and from the line-out their pack set for a drive; after two small advances they recycled 3 times to put replacement hooker Francis over near the posts before 7 minutes. Their fullback added. Taunton used an up-and-under after the restart and regained possession; they tried wider ball for three phases and made ground before being turned over. Ruddock then sent Barnes' no.8 down the touchline to come in a bit to touch down after 9 minutes. The fly-half converted to restore the 25 point lead.

The restart resulted in a scrum for the home team 14 metres inside their half and that turned into a penalty for the opposition. Taunton ran the ball and broke through after one recycle wide sending wing Sixton to the corner after 13 minutes. The conversion was wide. After the next restart, which was long, the visitors kept ball in hand and after 10 mixed phases got a penalty 6 metres past halfway then kicked for a line-out 10 metres out. Their pack set for a drive that moved a bit then was held before the ball was recycled close to no. 8 Hayler who got over with some support at 18 minutes. An easier conversion missed. Taunton kicked out on the full after the high restart giving Barnes an attacking line-out 26 metres out. They only just secured their ball then from the second breakdown their captain Collins appeared from its middle and ran unopposed to the post at 21 minutes. Hammett added.

Barnes secured the following high restart and kept possession for 13 mostly close phases without much advance until turned over. Taunton broke through using wider ball to get a penalty 10 metres out; this was run resulting in another 8 metres out that was kicked for a line-out 5 metres out. From that their pack did not try to drive but did recycle close 13 times to get a third penalty that was put into touch for another line-out 5 metres out. From this one they did try to drive and after the second attempt Hayler broke off to get over at 28 minutes. The fullback added. Taunton used wider ball from the restart and after 8 phases got the next penalty that was kicked from their 10 metres line to 28 metres from Barnes'. They advanced from that with 4 close phases before being forced into touch 15 metres out. Barnes cleared to touch at their 10 metre line than stole the line-out. They advanced close from that then recycled wide; the fullback came into the line and sent wing Martey to the corner at 33 minutes. An excellent conversion from the fly-half added.

Barnes used an up-and-under after the restart; the visitors got the ball then had their line-out at the opposition 10 metre line. From that they kept the ball close for 4 phases before going wide and advancing then after 3 more recycles replacement flanker Lee ran in from the 22 to near the posts at 37 minutes. Kingdom added. Taunton dealt with the high restart and quickly went wide twice; a kick ahead was regained and Sixton ran to the line wide out a bit more than 2 minutes after the previous try. A good kick from the fullback followed and the score was 46 v 38 and the second half points had been 21 v 38.

The visitors secured the mid-distance restart and determined to run the ball. After recycling once close they went wide twice then after another close recycle used another wide. This last was read by the opposition fullback who intercepted and went to the line. The conversion missed before the whistle.

Bright, mostly blue sky, not cold, rather windy with the pitch firm.