In a fiercely contested match at The Upper, Sherborne narrowly fell to Taunton with a scoreline of 24-21. Despite a spirited effort from the home side, the well-drilled Taunton forwards proved decisive, ultimately securing their victory.

Facing a strong headwind, Sherborne found themselves under pressure early, with Taunton camping in their 22. However, it was Sherborne who struck first against the run of play. Ali RT charged down a kick, and Edwin L—already with five tries this season—pounced on the loose ball to add his sixth. Edwin L then converted to give Sherborne a 7-0 lead.

Taunton responded, capitalising on penalties conceded around halfway. They worked their way into Sherborne’s 22 and executed a well-organised driving maul from a lineout to score, narrowing the gap to 7-5. Sherborne’s defence held strong in the face of relentless Taunton attacks, with Archie N making crucial tackles to keep the visitors at bay. Although Sherborne had opportunities in Taunton’s 22, unforced errors meant they couldn’t capitalise when accuracy was needed.

Ali RT, however, provided the breakthrough again. Attacking wider channels, he charged through defenders from 5 metres out, powering over the line to extend Sherborne's lead. Edwin L converted, bringing the score to 14-5. As the half drew to a close, Sherborne aimed to hold onto their advantage, knowing the wind would favour them in the second half. However, further penalties gave Taunton valuable territory, and their forwards struck again, scoring another try off the back of a driving maul.

Half-Time Score: Sherborne 14 - 10 Taunton

Sherborne came out confident with the wind now at their backs, but Taunton’s forwards continued to grind their way up the field, despite playing into the wind. After several phases, their powerful pack eventually forced their way over the line through a series of pick-and-go attempts, taking the lead 17-14.

Sherborne, instead of using the wind to gain territory, played into Taunton’s strengths by keeping the ball close to the breakdown. While Ben D and Jem L made some hard yards in midfield, Sherborne struggled to maintain possession under pressure, leading to turnovers. Penalties continued to hurt the home side, and Taunton’s forwards once again executed their pick-and-go tactics to extend their lead to 24-14 with just 10 minutes remaining.

Refusing to give in, Sherborne rallied and won penalties of their own. They camped in Taunton’s 22, and after a series of close-range attacks, Jake B used his physicality to bundle over the line. Edwin L’s conversion made it 21-24, giving Sherborne hope of a late comeback.

With time running out, Sherborne continued to apply pressure, earning multiple penalties that brought them to Taunton’s 5-metre line. Unfortunately, for the second week in a row, a potential match-winning try was deemed held up over the line, denying Sherborne a thrilling victory.

Full-Time Score: Sherborne 21 - 24 Taunton

Despite the disappointment, the team must regroup quickly as they prepare for an important third-round National Cup match against Abingdon on Wednesday. The boys will be determined to bounce back and progress further in the competition.

Player of the Match: Ali RT