Revenge is sweet for Bristol as Titans are left reeling

Rotherham Titans’ run of three victories over Bristol came to an abrupt end on a bitterly cold afternoon at the Memorial Stadium as the Championship leaders gained revenge for the 44-6 mauling at Clifton Lane in October.

It wasn’t a game for the purists with spilled passes, loose kicks and missed tackles but head coach Andre Bester knows that the Titans will have to step up a gear if they are to overcome Cornish Pirates next week.

The Titans were forced to defend for the opening five minutes with Bristol opting to kick a penalty to touch and set up a 15-metre drive for the line and, from third-phase play, inside centre Will Helu barged his way over the line.

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The conversion attempt from fly-half Tristan Roberts out on the left hit the upright, but Bristol kept the Titans pinned in their own half and it wasn’t until midway through the first half that the visitors ventured into the opposition half.

But that was short-lived as the Titans were penalised at a 22-metre scrum for boring in and Bristol cleared upfield, with only the hosts’ unforced errors preventing more points.

A poor clearance kick from fly-half Cliffie Hodgson saw Bristol mount an attack from their own 22 through George Watkins and three more pairs of hands until Fautua Otto touched down in the right corner.

Roberts then landed a simple penalty for a 13-0 interval lead.

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Rotherham struck early in the second half with a Hodgson penalty from 40 metres, but another penalty saw Roberts soon add another three points

On the hour, Merriman burrowed his way to the line. Roberts converted and again five minutes later hooker Ross Johnston’s bonus points try.

With less than five minutes remaining, second row Roy Winters gave the final pass to winger Jack Tovey, who squeezed in the right corner for the fifth try which replacement fly-half Matty James converted.

Bristol: J Goodridge; J Tovey, F Otto, W Helu, G Watkins; T Roberts (M James, 74), R Tipuna (T Slater, 74); M Irish (D Crompton, 61), R Johnston, J Hobson (W Thompson, 61), G Townson (M Sambucetti, 57), R Winters, J Ovens, J Merriman (capt), M Mama (H Vanderglas, 57). Unused replacements: R Lawrence.

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Rotherham Titans: T Foden; D McCall, E Brierley, P Homan, E Tellwright; C Hodgson, D Farnham; B Harris, T Stagg, B Hooper, N Patrick (T Vaioleti, 61), A Griffiths, B Maddison, C Kirwan, S Dickinson (capt). Unused replacements: D Baines, J Kilbane, R O’Donnell, S Dougall, G Law, S Monahan

Referee: D Gamage (Cambridgeshire).

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