By Stefan
December 10 2005

EARTH TITANS, hellbent on extending their unbeaten record at on the top of the table, achieved their goal by four tries to two at Park Lane – but only just.

In a game too close for comfort played under floodlights the Titans, displaying great character, showed determined defence against opponents in control for most of the second half.

Leading 15-0 with 30 minutes on the clock, the Titans found themselves 15-7 up at halftime and 15-12 up early in the second half, what's more, Sedgley Park were forcing the game and pressing in the Titans 22.

The turning point came on the 50-minute mark with a break-out try from centre Anthony Carter – playing in his first game for the A-team. He got on the end of a pass from fly-half Tom Outram giving Carter acres of space in the opponent's half. The centre ran the 40 metres rounding the defence to his second try of the day.

Carter's try relieved the tension and after Outram's excellent conversion from an awkward angle, the Titans led 22-12.

Within two minutes of Carter's timely intervention, the Titans were back in the Sedgley Park 22 creating a try for debutant winger Phil Dale.

The pack drove into their opponents near the right touch-line after taking the re-start in the Titans' 22. Scrumhalf Michael Kirkwood's snappy break, prop forward Attie Pienaar's super support play and Nathan Pike's delicate over-hand lob to Gaz Brear set up the clinching try.

The lightning fullback raced over the halfway line only to be brought down within a metre of the try-line in the left corner, once the ball was moved to winger Phil Dale on the touchline, Sedgley Park's defence couldn't cope and the lead was extended to 27-12.

But the Titans' position could have easily reversed when debutant Number Eight, David Cauldwell, got on the wrong side of the whistle happy referee. He found himself marching to the sin-bin setting up a nerve-tingling climax. However, the visitor's solid defence held firm and the danger passed.

Making countless errors, the Titans made a promising start but lacked direction and control. They scored first half tries by prop forward Jamie Kilbane - driven over by the pack - and Carter - who threw a dummy pass before stepping inside the cover to go over - with a penalty and conversion coming from Outram.

Sedgley Park - who seemed to get greater numbers to every breakdown - with a try in each half and a conversion, had appeared to give their side a victory platform, a position that seemed probable following their 46th minute try.

Carter's intervention stopped the rot, and so the Titans inflicted the first home league defeat of the season on their opponents.

"I'm pleased with the win. We weren't always as efficient as we wanted to be and we made more mistakes in our own half than I would have liked."

"But at the end of the day we got four tries and a win," said A-team Coach, Craig West, after the game.

Earth Titans:
15 Gareth Brear (Ant Carter 65); 14 Dave Bolton, 13 Ant Carter (Tom Outram 65), 12 Gareth Morley, 11 Phil Dale (Gareth Brear 65); 10 Tom Outram (Charlie Spon-Smith 65), 9 Michael Kirkwood (Alex Drage 60); 1 Sam Walsh (Jamie Kilbane 65) (Tom Browse 74), 2 Jamie Kilbane (Jonny Larby 64), 3 Attie Pienaar, 4 Nathan Pike (Tim Maslanyk 60), 5 Rob Walton (James Waterhouse 60), 6 Tim Maslanyk (Greg Burnham 60), 7 Joe Earp (Nick Barrett 54), 8 Richard Sawyer (David Cauldwell 54).

Earth Titans Scorers:
Anthony Carter (2T), Jamie Kilbane (T), Phil Dale (T), Tom Outram (P2C).

Yellow Card:
David Cauldwell (68 min)