London Welsh 39 Rotherham Titans 10: Titans taught valuable lesson as injuries take toll against Welsh

For the first time this season, Rotherham failed to compete, surprisingly so considering their promising start to the Championship campaign in which they have beaten Bristol, Bedford and Nottingham.

However, against London Welsh, who on this evidence should finish in the top four, the Titans could not cope with the pace, power and handling of the full-time professional opposition.

Rotherham's fifth league match was lost in the opening 40 minutes, having conceded four tries. Fighting against a half-time deficit of 25-3, the best the Titans could hope for was to leave with a losing bonus point.

That consolation was not achieved, although in the second half, Rotherham's forwards produced a much stronger performance, won and retained possession and created a try for replacement forward Louis McGowan on 77 minutes.

Weakened by injuries, although coach Andre Bester did not blame this heavy defeat on the absence of prop Rob 0'Donnell and backs Jonny Hepworth and Richard Welding, Rotherham started poorly by surrendering points, as they have in each league game, within minutes of the kick-off.

Here, two familiar opponents, former Rotherham three-quarter Errie Claassens and former Doncaster centre Hudson Tongauiha, scored tries in the first five minutes, and with London Welsh controlling possession and moving the ball quickly, two more tries were easily scored by winger Joshua Drauniniu and flanker Michael Hills.

Rotherham were being outclassed and the experiment of playing Henry Paul at fly-half was not a success.

The former Super League star and international in both codes is now 36 and inevitably struggles to reproduce the qualities which made him such a formidable player and match-winner.

Now coaching periodically the backs in Russia's national team, Paul's vast experience and professionalism at the highest levels in both union and league should benefit Rotherham's young side, but against London Welsh he failed to make an impact and was taken off early in the second half.

Rotherham's improvement could not be sustained and while they established promising positions from which they could have scored, blunders confirmed an inevitable defeat.

On 49 minutes, the back row lost control, Welsh No 8 Epeli Taione collected and winger Drauniniu, dashing 90 metres, scored his second try.

Much to the annoyance of Welsh's coach Phil Greening, his side relaxed, allowing Rotherham's pack to control the ball but the Titans' defence proved vulnerable again to the quick counter-attack.

A sixth try was conceded on 80 minutes as winger Liam Gibson touched down and with the former Leeds fly-half Gordon Ross adding his third conversion, Rotherham suffered an unexpected battering.

"Look, we are a young team and you learn a lot by losing these types of matches. All our mistakes were self-inflicted. We gave away penalties and knocked on when there was no pressure and it's no excuse to say we lost because we had players missing," said Bester.

"London Welsh will be one of the top sides in the Championship. Their defence is exceptional. We have a small squad but that is not an excuse. It's not a waste of time having a beating like this because this experience will teach our guys. It's the best way of coaching players. This is how young players learn and I have no qualms about putting them in."

On the positive side, Scottish prop Colin Quigley, replacing long-term absentee Rob O'Donnell, scrummaged forcefully and Rotherham's second hooker, Dave McGregor, from Ulster, looked dangerous in possession when sent on to take over from Alex Loney.

As Bester prepares for the Bees, his squad may be strengthened by the return from injury of backs Welding and Matt Rhodes.

London Welsh: Claassens, Gibson, Tongauiha (Shabo 63), Whatling, Drauniniu, Ross, Stevenson (Runciman 63), Holford, Nelson (Breeze 20), Pittman, Purdy, Corker, Russell, Hills, Taione.

Rotherham Titans: Hodgson (West 60), Swatkins, Hunt, Socino, Du Randt, Henry (Stimpson 47), Bedford, Steenkamp (A O'Donnell) 63), Loney (McGregor 50), Quigley (Kilbane 63),Harris (Sandford 25), Dickinson, Burrows (McGowan 66), Baines, Kettle.

Referee: G Garner.