This was a bitterly disappointing result for the All Whites after an end-to-end game of entertaining rugby.

Taunton played to their potential and looked every bit the champions elect and, at the end of the day, deserved the win. However, the margin flattered them as poor discipline by the hosts and a couple of lucky bounces gave them three tries on a plate.

That is not to take anything away from the Somerset side, who came to Rackerhayes with a proud record and left with it intact.

The game started well for the visitors, who had the better of the opening exchanges, with the All Whites taking their time to get going.

Taunton went close on a number of occasions through their impressive back three of full back Matt Ayres and wingers Rukin and Webber.

The All Whites had a chance to take the lead on 12 minutes. Having relieved themselves of the Taunton pressure, they drove up field well through the forwards, catching Taunton on the hop. Neil Johns found himself with the ball and he skipped his way through the would-be tacklers before being dragged down near the visitors' 22-yard line.

The All Whites were first to the ball, but Taunton impeded them illegally resulting in a penalty, but Joe Burford did not have his kicking boots on and missed from wide out.

Taunton capitalised by going straight back up the other end and winning a penalty after good approach work by Brewer and Ward. Centre Saunders slotted the easy points from in front of the stick.

Within five minutes they were 8-nil ahead. The All Whites had made a good break from inside their own half. Nick Holt had run hard through the outside half channel, and cutting inside he looked to offload, but the back row were not quite there in time, and Brewer snaffled the ball from him as he presented it, and quickly fed scrum half Rhodes who set full back Ayres away.

Ayres cleverly kicked over the head of Jan Viskoper for winger Rukin to chase down, and he managed to beat Johns to the touchdown courtesy of a kind bounce. Centre Saunders missed the conversion.

The All Whites sprang into life at this point, putting Taunton under immense pressure for the next ten minutes, resulting in just rewards for their effort.

Twice they went close to scoring. First through Alex Moore and then Jason Keenan. However, after reworking the ball, it was Alex Huntley who went over in kitchen corner to bring the score back to 8-5 just before the break.

Burford missed the conversion, but the score seemed to set the game alight, and there was a bit of fistycuffs just before the break involving Moore, before the referee decided that it was time for everybody to calm down and blew his whistle for half-time.

After the break, the All Whites got off to a dream start.

From the kick off they set up a good platform. Cane fed Birkett, who fed Viskoper, the full back then scythed his way across field beating four defenders to score a cracking try in the corner, but Burford missed the conversion from wide out.

Within five minutes, more All White pressure brought a penalty in front of the posts, and this time Burford made no mistake, taking the score to 13-8 with 50 minutes gone.

However, this was the last time the All Whites were to get on the scoreboard.

Taunton rallied and within five minutes were back at 13-13 courtesy of a man overlap after good approach work, Ayres and Webber combining for Ayres to score; conversion missed.

Moments later, full back Viskoper was cruelly left flat-footed by a dodgy bounce as Taunton stand off Martin had angled a speculative kick over the top of him. Taunton, following up, got in behind for an easy try. Again the conversion was missed, but the score stood at 18-13 to the visitors.

The All Whites rallied and began to take control, however Taunton fielded a long clearance and kicked down the left flank, and this time a mix-up between Viskoper and Moore saw the ball bounce into the path of the grateful Ayres, who fed wing Webber who scored in the corner.

The All Whites, refusing to roll over, enjoyed a further period of dominance, and having worked their way up to inside the Taunton 22, they were awarded a penalty as Huntley found himself being throttled by a Taunton defender.

Feelings were running high, something was said and the referee reversed the decision, perhaps a pivotal moment. Had the All Whites slotted what would have been an easy penalty it would have reduced the deficit to sevon points.

The chance gone, Taunton capitalised by putting together a good flowing move, finished off in the corner by Rukin right at the death to make the final score 28-13.

Taunton travelled home happy with their unbeaten record intact, while the All Whites can reflect on what might have been.

Now they must pick themselves up for the visit to Yatton tomorrow for a rearranged league match.

Coach Burford has urged his players to show their mental strength and character and to bounce back with a vengeance.