Tor showed dogged determination for the full 80 minutes and, although both teams did their best to keep the ball moving, the referee had a busy day as players regularly lost their footing at the breakdown and handling errors interrupted the flow of the game.

Taunton, coming off the back of a good winning streak, started the quicker and the opening exchanges were all in the home side’s half. Tor soon settled and fly-half Alfie Lee’s boot kept territory and possession even for the remainder of the first quarter.

Tor 2nd XV cruise to big win over Ivel Barbarians in Somerset 2 South

Hooker Lester won the opening scrum of the match against the head for Tor but the hosts then struggled to dominate the set-piece. With both sides using the high ball to gain territory, full-back Matt Coley had plenty of opportunities to show off his skill at clearing up and launching counter-attacks.

Mark Cinacola was forced into touch by a try-saving tackle after Nick Curtis had picked up from a scrum and sent the ball wide but Matt Bisgrove forced a penalty from the resulting lineout and Lee sent the ball through the posts to break the deadlock on the half-hour.

Taunton’s openside flanker was yellow-carded moments later for persistently pulling down the maul but the visitors pushed Tor back and kicked a penalty to level the scores.

The home defence otherwise stood firm and Tor were soon on the attack thanks to quick recycled ball from a scrappy lineout in the Taunton 22. James Austwick ran a great angle at speed to touch down under the posts and Lee converted for a 10-3 lead at the break.

From the restart, Tor looked to move the ball around as Curtis led the forward charge. Austwick, Cinacola and Coley then took play into the visitors’ 22 and forced a penalty, allowing Lee to extend the advantage to 13-3 four minutes into the second half.

Taunton threw down the gauntlet and put some good phases together, pushing deep into Tor’s half. Austwick was sin-binned for a deliberate knock-on and the visitors took advantage of the extra man to score in the corner on 57 minutes.

Tor were allowed to regain control when Taunton needlessly killed the ball in the ruck and Lee kicked the penalty to give the home side a 16-8 lead.

With both teams slowing down due to the heavy conditions in the final quarter, territory and possession were even but Tor mounted one last assault, only to be pulled down just short.

Man of the match: Alfie Lee.

Read more: http://www.centralsomersetgazette.co.uk/Tor-extend-perfect-home-record-victory-Taunton/story-20467095-detail/story.html#ixzz2r0pXoXhX