REECE Marshall scored four tries as Chinnor claimed their first away victory of the season with an impressive bonus-point win at Taunton Titans.

The hooker touched down off the back of three unstoppable driving mauls, before diving over out wide after running a fine supporting line off Nick Smith’s break through the middle of the pitch.

Following five defeats from our opening six games, it was an important result for our Men’s First XV, who have climbed a place to 11th in the National 1 table.

It was not the perfect performance, but our set-piece was outstanding, defence solid for the most part and our players showed exceptional grit and desire from 21-12 down after 50 minutes to leave Somerset with five points.

Man-of-the-match went to James Down for his outstanding contribution to our set-piece, while Will Feeney had a fine game at inside centre, and Marshall, of course, deserves a special mention for his try-scoring exploits.

Director of Rugby, Richard Thorpe made six changes – one positional – from last week’s defeat at home to Plymouth Albion. Will Simonds made his debut at outside centre after joining from Wasps, while Keston Lines, Marshall, Greg Goodfellow and Josh Hodson came into the XV.

Chinnor started the match brilliantly and dominated the opening 15 minutes. Our intensity from the kick-off set the tone and we won the early kick battle to gain territory and test the Titans defence.

It didn’t take long for our first try to arrive – five minutes to be exact – as Marshall plunged over at the back of an unstoppable driving lineout. Full-back Smith stepped up to add the extras and make it 7-0.

A great start and we continued to enjoy the upper hand. We turned down points following penalties in the centre of the field in search of another score, however we were unable to convert.

Taunton began to grow into the game, while our discipline also allowed them to move up the pitch and enter our half for the first time after a quarter of an hour.

Successive penalties led to fly-half Iwan Jenkin kicking to the corner and, although we defended the maul well, the home side did find their way over the whitewash. They played out and a long pass was chucked out to the left, where the ball bounced kindly for winger Tom Stewart who finished well. Jenkin added the extras to level the match.

The penalty count continued to rise against us, but we stood up to Taunton’s pressure. Twice our maul defence needed to be spot on and it was, with Titans unable to add to their tally.

A Goodfellow box-kick helped us move up the pitch, before Feeney’s huge left boot took us back into the Taunton half. Honestly, this particular kick not only had legs but height, and the hosts were penalised on the floor after the attempted catch had been fumbled. We punished the error as Feeney kicked to the corner and we got our maul rumbling once more with Marshall profiting again for his second of the afternoon on 33 minutes. Smith’s attempted conversion was just off target, but it meant we led 12-7 at the break.

There was obviously still a long way to go in the game and Titans made a strong start to the second half, scoring twice in seven minutes to go 21-12 in front.

Both tries were similar, with Taunton picking and going off the lineout, with centre Toby East and lock Brett Harvey crossing. Jenkin converted on both occasions as we suddenly found ourselves nine points behind.

After an extremely tough opening six rounds of the season, this was to be another test of our character and the boys passed with flying colours.

We responded six minutes later. Replacement centre Will Blakemore gave us go forward in the centre of the pitch with one particularly blistering carry, before Feeney kicked us up to the 22. Attacking off the lineout, Goodfellow kept the throttle down with a quick-tap penalty and prop Josh Pieterse drove over from close range. Smith added the extras to cut the deficit to two points.

Our tails were up again and another meaty kick from Feeney sent us deep into the Titans half once more. Again, the driving maul was only going one way and Marshall plunged over for his hat-trick. Smith’s conversion attempt slipped wide, but we again had our noses in front at 24-21 after 61 minutes.

The next score was crucial and we stood up to every Taunton attack, with Jack Walsh particularly dogged at fly-half, while one attack was brilliantly stopped by Smith and Simonds, who doubled up on the right winger to turn over possession.

With six minutes to go there was still only three points in it, but we were able to put the match out of sight. Smith broke through a gap in the centre of the pitch and he had a willing support runner in Marshall. The full-back drew the last man and fed the former Northampton Saints hooker who powered over for his fourth of the afternoon. A lovely try and the icing on the cake was the fabulous touchline conversion from Smith, which put us ten points ahead and out of sight.

Titans finished the match in the ascendency as they went in search of a bonus point, but we held firm, we looked determined to deny them another score, and very much enjoyed the sound of the final whistle.

Winning doesn’t half feel good, but we must now back it up next Saturday at home to Sale.

Taunton Titans: Gott, Stewart, Fraser, East, Bonnick, Jenkin, Petherbridge, Baker, Gosling, Dalton, Harvey, Leworthy, Sprangle, Wright, Oliphant-Thompson.
Reps: Francis, Vaughan, Knott, Elsworth, Banks.

Chinnor: Smith, Worrall, Simonds, Feeney, Hodson, Walsh, Goodfellow, Lines, Marshall, McNulty, Down, Curry, Brockschmidt, North, Ryan.
Reps: Robinson, Pieterse, Heathman, Berry, Blakemore.