Sherborne 1st XV vs King's Taunton

Sherborne 1st XV delivered a thrilling 38-19 victory over King’s Taunton, combining moments of brilliance with a few heart-stopping defensive lapses. Battling a fierce headwind, Sherborne’s early dominance set the tempo, laying the foundation for a commanding performance that their opponents could never quite match.

Sherborne exploded out of the blocks, asserting their authority with dynamic, powerful carrying in open play. King’s Taunton struggled to contain the pressure, conceding penalties that gave Sherborne a perfect opportunity to launch their feared driving maul. Near the opposition try line, Jake B muscled over from close range to open the scoring.

However, King’s Taunton soon hit back. A slight dip in Sherborne’s defensive intensity allowed the opposition’s No. 8 to slice through midfield, shrugging off tackles before cruising in from 50 metres to level the scores.

In a swift response, Hamish K fed a slick inside ball to Ali RT, sending Sherborne charging into the King’s Taunton 22. Though stopped just short of the line, Jem L took matters into his own hands, powering over from close range to grab his first of two tries on the day.

Then came a moment of individual brilliance. Edwin L, sensing an opportunity near the ruck, used his lightning footwork to dance past defenders and scorch his way into the corner for a sensational try. Though King’s Taunton continued to threaten, Sherborne’s defence rallied to maintain their lead heading into half-time.

Half-Time Score: Sherborne 17 - 5 King’s Taunton

Sherborne wasted no time asserting their dominance after the break. With Edwin L and Hamish K tactically pinning King’s Taunton deep in their own 22, the pressure forced a knock-on, giving Sherborne prime field position. From the ensuing scrum, Jem L crashed into the defensive line and, carrying four defenders with him, thundered over under the posts to extend the lead to 24-5.

King’s Taunton clawed their way back into the contest after a penalty allowed them to set up camp near Sherborne’s line. After a series of well-defended phases – with Will H standing tall – King’s Taunton eventually found a way through to reduce the deficit to 24-12.

But once again, Edwin L stole the spotlight. 10 metres into Sherborne’s half, he feigned a box kick before spotting a gap. Exploiting the space with a dazzling burst of pace, he tore through the defence, evading four defenders en route to a magnificent solo try. Edwin’s successful conversion pushed the score to 31-12.

Though a lapse in discipline allowed King’s Taunton to score another close-range try, narrowing the gap to 31-19, Sherborne remained in control. They camped inside King’s Taunton’s 22 for much of the closing stages, and despite a few handling errors, Ali RT eventually crossed the whitewash to seal the result and bring the game to a decisive close.

Full-Time Score: Sherborne 38 - 19 King’s Taunton