Imperfect 10 as Titans take lead ahead of Welsh visit

Rotherham regained the league leadership with a solid defensive display at Clifton Lane where the Titans earned their 10th consecutive victory in all competitions, and as they prepare for this Sunday’s top of the table game against London Welsh in Oxford, the squad should be reinforced by the return of forwards Alfie To’oala and Dan Sanderson.

Rotherham travel to the Kassam Stadium for one of the most important Championship clashes of the season with the impressive league record of 11 wins in 14 contests, but they know they will need to reproduce past standards if they are to cause an upset against London Welsh,wounded by their shock defeat at Plymouth.

The Titans made far too many uncharacteristic errors against Moseley – wayward passes, lost lineouts and knock-ons to be able to repeat the fluent form which has forged such a dangerous side.

The playing conditions did not help. A swirling wind made it difficult for both teams to control the ball and was largely responsible for Rotherham’s goal kicker, centre Juan Pablo Socino, missing three penalties.

The Argentinean, though, did put over 11 points, a conversion and three penalties, two of which on 72 and 87 minutes achieved the narrow win against opponents who were hard to penetrate and were unlucky not to claim a point.

While Moseley’s pack disrupted Rotherham’s scrum, particularly in the first half, the West Midlands club did not score a try against a strong defence.

Rotherham may not have performed with their customary movement, but they did not concede a try and restricted an awkward and much improved Moseley side to two penalties only, one in each half.

A sparkling try by centre Jack Roberts after only two minutes which was created by the quick thinking of Dallan Murphy suggested that Rotherham but by the end Rotherham were thankful to earn the four points.

“You have to give credit to Moseley who are a tough team to beat,” said Rotherham’s head coach Lee Blackett.

Rotherham Titans: Scanlon, Keating, Roberts, Socino, Wilson, Murphy, Mulchrone (White 52), Hislop (Williams 64), Cruse (Sowrey 50), Tampin (Quigley 49), Maddison (Thomas-Brown 64), Thomas, Birch, Preece, Williamson (Rieder 60).

Moseley: Carter, Hunt, Armstrong, King(Owen 79)Williams, Ryan (Thomas 58), Brown, Voisey, Buckley (W Evans 70), B Evans ,Charlton, Powell, Mason (Lawrence 62), Robinson (Burrows 77), Brightwell

Referee: Dean Richards.