South-West 2 (W): Brixham 19, Taunton 32.

THE Great Escape! A concrete pitch, 22C and no wind - ideal conditions for Taunton's speed merchants.

A magical second half display banished the spectre of relegation that has haunted them for weeks.

Caretaker coaches Julian Holloway and Lee Waddon, who have done a first-rate job this season, were confident Taunton would prevail.

They were all smiles by the time 33-1 Silver Birch won the Grand National. Brixham, second in the league and assured of a promotion play-off, werefavourites.

They had beaten Taunton at Astley Park on the last five oftheir previous visits by an average score of 36-10 and turned Taunton over in their meeting at Hyde Park earlier this season.

Hornets, the other relegation candidates, were odds-on to defeat Exmouth in Weston-Super-mare (they won 36-19).

They would finish above Taunton on differential if Taunton left Devon without at least a draw.

But Taunton had other ideas. The recent return of their Army contingent - Fijians Tubes' Naulivou, Tex' Raratabu and Scott' Damudamu plus Martin Lacey - has inspired the rest of the team.

The pack ground down the bulky Fishermen and provided the foundation of this excellent win. The front row of Wayne Wiltshire, Jon Gatford and tight head Richard Parsons were immovable and almost as mobile as the athletic locks Ross Ward and John Crawford.

Flankers Pieter Tosen and skipper Geoff Arnold were always in the thick of the action while number eight Raratabu was awesome. His power, pace and angles of running produced a tryin each half. At scrum half Mark Winter had an armchair ride behind the dominant eight.

His service to the playmaker at number ten was impeccable and everything revolved around Naulivou. His distribution, deception, changeof direction and other sleights of hand baffled the hosts and hisoutside backs were given a day to remember.

Centres Chris Dennehy and Damudamu revelled in the freedom while wingers Ben Rudkin (blistering pace) and Lacey (a little slower but with the added power) had plenty of involvement, particularly in the second half.

Full back Scott Baker (my player of the season) was as safe as ever and scared the opposition to death every time he had a chance to run.

Replacements Paul Smith, Ian Brewer and Etienne van den Brink made their entrances in the final quarter with full contributions.

Brixham led twice in the first half, an unconverted try by Adam Thomas trumped by one from Raratabu plus Tosen's conversion and then Steve Worth restored their lead, converted by Ben Lovell.

Lacey closed the half with an unconverted try to level the scores at 12-all.

In the second session, Tosen landed a penalty either side of converting Raratabu's second try and Taunton were 13 points up.

With barely ten minutes left, Brixham's Chris Dorling crashed over from a five-metre lineout drive. Lovell converted from the touchline.

When they had another lineout close to the visitors' line, things looked ominous but Taunton pinched their throw and cleared.

To set the seal on a truly memorable match, Taunton's backs broke away from their own 22 at a turnover and shredded what was left of Brixham's defence.

Damudamu finished off and Tosen converted to bring down the curtain on Taunton's 132nd season.