14 against 15 for 3/4s of the game

Not dissimilar from the previous game 8 days ago (apart from the card). Very good defence by Barnes in the first half then a red card at the end of the first quarter changed the game. Seven points ahead at halftime Taunton scored 6 more tries in the next 30 minutes. Barnes' only scores came at the end.

Barnes kicked off with the wind; Taunton got the first attack going after forcing an error. Two good sets of more than a dozen phases got them to their line-out 10 metres out. That was followed by more good defence from Barnes that resulted in the home team getting the first scrum put-in. After it they soon kicked to the other half. The visitors ran back and went wide three times before being forced into touch 5 metres past halfway. The home team used an up-and-under from their line-out then Taunton ran the ball from their 22 to get a penalty 17 metres from halfway. The line-out just past halfway resulted in an opposition scrum. Barnes were pushed back and Taunton got another put-in 7 metres ahead. They released to centre from that to get a penalty after no advance and kicked to 28 metres out. From their line-out they made ground with 5 phases then the defence forced an error to get a scrum 11 metres out. Barnes soon cleared to touch near halfway. The ball was first kept in from the line-out then released to centre twice before the major incident 17 minutes. A potentially dangerous tackle by a Barnes' player was reacted to by tackled player then a further reaction by the Barnes' player resulted in a red card.

Taunton ran their penalty from near halfway, going wide then recycling close twice before chipping through towards the corner. Barnes touched down for a 22 drop-out which went into touch near halfway off an opposition player. The line-out ball was blown to the opposition side and the visitors made ground with it but only before being penalised 11 metres ahead. The kick took Barnes to the opposition 22 then from the line-out their pack kept the ball close for 8 phases to get another penalty 13 metres out. They ran that again keeping the ball close and recycling 10 times getting to 2 metres out where the defence forced an error to get a scrum.

The visitors kept the ball in before releasing and going wide then soon after kicking almost to the other 22. After securing a platform Barnes used an up-and-under; Taunton got the ball and had a run before being penalised at the opposition 10 metre line. The kick gained 11 metres and after the line-out Barnes kicked into their opponents 22 where the ball was marked.

Taunton cleared to touch just past their 10 metre line. After the line-out and two recycles the visitors forced an error and got the ball. After 5 close recycles they kicked out on the full from near halfway then stole the line-out. They attacked with their fullback in the line but that soon broke down. Barnes got the ball and used an up-and-under. The visitors got the ball from that then put together their best attack since the early minutes of the game with 9 mixed phases before passing forward 5 metres from the line. From the scrum Barnes cleared to touch to 27 metres out. Taunton released from the line-out then recycled close 4 times then once wider to put flanker Oliphant-Thompson over half way out at 33 minutes. Their fullback Kingdom converted.

The restart resulted in a scrum for the home team 26 metres from their opponents' line. From that they advanced a bit with 2 phases before the defence forced an error to get a put-in at their 22. Taunton went wide from that only to lose the ball; Barnes got it and recycled close 4 times before having a kick charged down. The visitors got the ball and broke out to the other 22 where they recycled twice before being penalised 23 metres out. The ball was put into touch for the halftime whistle.

The second half turned out to be totally different. Barnes secured the restart and soon cleared to touch 28 metres out. Taunton released from their line-out and after 4 close recycles their scrumhalf Thompson went himself then beat a last defender to go over near the posts inside 2 minutes. The fullback added.

They returned the restart with an up-and-under; Barnes got the ball and kept it for 6 mixed phases before having a kick charged down. Taunton regained but an error soon resulted in a scrum for Barnes 30 metres from their line. The home team went wide and used an up-and-under after 3 recycles. The visitors got the ball from that and advanced out wide then recycled 4 times to get close to the opposition line with the scrumhalf trying again and another advance wider. From there 3 close recycles got prop Baker over at the posts at 7 minutes. Kingdom kicked his third.

Again an up-and-under was used after the restart; Barnes got the ball and kept it for 5 close phases before getting a penalty 9 metres past halfway. A very good kick took them to less than 6 metres out; from the line-out the pack drove over the line but were forced out to touch in goal for a 22 drop-out.

Something said to the Ref. resulted in a penalty at the 22 plus another 10 metres. The visitors put the ball into touch at halfway then from their line-out they went wide and with just 2 phases got over wide out at 13 minutes, wing Wyatt scoring.

Taunton secured the high restart and kicked well to touch, with the wind, 15 metres into the other half. They regained from the opposition up-and-under after the line-out then chipped through well to touch to 9 metres out. From the line-out the home team cleared to touch 30 metres out. Taunton's pack set up a drive from the next line-out; the defence was loose and the drive got to 10 metres out. Then the visitors went wide before recycling close 7 times and prop Dalton getting over at the posts at 18 minutes. That was converted.

Barnes won a turnover just after the restart; they recycled 4 times to send their apparently fastest runner, a forward, clear through. His good pass was dropped and that was followed by a penalty for the visitors 18 metres from their line. The kick took Taunton to the other 22 but not to touch; Barnes ran then were forced into touch 15 metres out. Taunton's forwards drove well from the line-out then replacement prop Martin broke off to go over at 23 minutes.

The visitors' lock Williams received the restart and ran off through the opposition line. One recycle wide took his team almost to Barnes' goal line. Two more recycles got hooker Spurdle over wide out within 3 minutes of the previous try. The conversion hit the post and bounced out.

Taunton returned the shorter restart with the usual up-and-under. Barnes got the ball from that and put together their best set of phases which got them a penalty 29 metres from the visitors' line. The touch-kick gained 8 metres then their line-out was stolen. Taunton kept the ball close, with 3 phases, then kicked for territory. Barnes ran the ball back and after one recycle and a few passes, with the previously impressive visitors' defence seeming to be loose, sent centre Van Buuren to the posts at 31 minutes. The conversion was fluffed.

Barnes secured the restart and advanced recycling 6 times then put their sprinter clear. His pass went to an opponent; after a recycle Taunton kicked long for territory. Barnes ran back to the 22 then recycled close 5 times for flanker Harbison to get over at 35 minutes. The conversion was not successful.

The home team secured the restart and kept the ball. They recycled a handful of times without advancing but got a penalty 25 metres from their line. The kick didn't find touch and Taunton ran back with 3 phases before passing forward 3 metres past halfway. From the scrum Barnes went wide then recycled twice to send the sprinter off again for another long run. He was caught and the visitors got a put-in 8 metres from their line. Soon after the scrum Barnes forced an error then their own error resulted in the final whistle.

Cold with some wind; rain at the start then dry and bright for most of the game on an artificial pitch.