TAUNTON Titans head coach Tony Yapp cut a frustrated figure after his side’s first home defeat of the season, describing his side’s attacking threat as “blunt and predictable”.

The Titans had the lion’s share of possession and territory but were routinely stopped in their tracks by a resolute Henley Hawks side, who ran out 17-13 winners at the Commsplus Stadium.

READ MORE: Report - Titans blunted by stubborn Hawks at Hyde Park

Yapp told the County Gazette: “We are disappointed, we put a lot of things in place for this game.

“We attacked for 70-80% of the game and we didn’t have to defend for long periods, although we’ve conceded two.

“We would like to think we can score more than 17 points at home. We let them in too easily a couple of times and from an attacking point of view we were just a bit blunt and predictable.

“Our support for the ball carrier was too slow. We were turned over a few times in and around their 22 because our speed of support to the ball carrier was too slow. We can’t spend as much time in and around the opposition 22 as that and not come away with something.

“We were a little bit rudderless and lost our shape a bit too easily. Credit to Henley, they stood there and defended and picked up a couple from only three or four chances. We have to be more streetwise and clinical.”

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The hosts had worked themselves into an 8-7 lead after a sustained period of pressure, only to surrender their advantage almost immediately as Henley scored with their very next attack.

When asked if this was a concentration issue, Yapp said: “I’d like to think not.

“We worked really hard to get the score and I thought we were slowly starting to turn up but, whether it was lack of concentration or accuracy, all of a sudden they went straight down the other end and scored.

“Even after that we had opportunities to play in the right areas for the last five minutes but again we lacked accuracy and allowed them to see the game out.

“We seemed to find a way today, be it knock-ons, speed at the breakdown or forward passes, to let it slip. I understand if things go like that for half a game but for it to happen for 80 minutes makes it tough to take.

“They are a good side. Not many teams are scoring many against them and I think they will be there or thereabouts come the end.

“But we are bitterly disappointed with how we have performed today. I think if we had performed to the best of our ability we would have come out with the right result. It’s always tough to stomach when you perform like that.”