Tribute South-West 2 (W): Taunton 34, Yatton 10.

ON a bitterly cold day, Taunton again came up with the goods, their eighth win on the trot.

Three years ago, on the same pitch, when the clubs were in Western Counties (N), Taunton won by a similar score, 37-10.

They were promoted in April 2005 and Yatton joined them in South West Two (W) at the end of last season.

Since that meeting, both teams have improved beyond recognition.

Yatton have not been out of their depth this season with a 40% return from their ten games.

They have beaten Camborne and Newton Abbot at home and have away wins at St Mary's and Barton Hill. They also got within a couple of points of beating Torquay.

Although not on a par with Taunton's record this season, they certainly gave them plenty to think about in a fiercely contested second half.

Yatton had the benefit of the northerly wind in the first session but did not take full advantage of it, deciding to concentrate on pick and drives from deep, rather than kick for territory and attack from closerange.

Taunton, as usual, deployed their full range of options and were comfortably 20 points up at the interval.

Jon Martin opened the scoring with a penalty four minutes into the match and his trusty left boot was to slot another before the break, plus the conversions of all four tries - two in each half.

Veteran Fijian Mosese Tuisawau baffled the visitors with a mazy run to set up the first penalty and then mesmerised the visitors' defence to score under the posts.

Half an hour into the action, Taunton, having just demolished a Yatton scrummage, drove over from a line-out and James Lamb claimed the try.

Then a lineout steal, a Mojo' ghosting and the second penalty finished the half.

Taunton were expected to build on their lead with the wind at their backs but Yatton had other ideas. They lifted their game and were next to score on the hour.

After many phases of their limited but effective pick and driving near the home try line, they eventually knocked on in front of the posts.

Taunton somehow contrived to lose their put-in and Mike Harris was gifted a try. Tony Hill, who missed his only penalty chance in the first half, converted.

Five minutes later, Martin put Ben Hunt through a hole to score near the posts, Hill landed a penalty on 70 minutes and at the end of normal time, Alan Lowe finished off another Taunton lineout drive.

With the last play of the match, deep into stoppage time, a Yatton interception looked odds-on a score but Matt Ayres cut down the runnerwith a superb try saving tackle.

There was no change in the league table, the top four all winning.

Taunton are in second spot just behind leaders Exmouth who just scrapeda win, 16-15, at bottom club Camborne.

Taunton: M. Tuisawau (rep M. Ayres); A. Gill, S. Martin, B. Hunt, B. Rudkin; J. Martin, H. Reeves; B. Moon, B. Muller (A. Lowe), D. Morton, R. Seaton (R. Ward), J. Lamb, P. Tosen (capt.), T. O'Keefe, D. Thomas. Match sponsor: Gibbs Plumbing Supplies. Ball sponsor: Marley Extrusions. Referee: K. Gibson (Somerset Society).