Rotherham humiliated as Pirates rack up perfect 10

The injury-hit Titans have now shipped 166 points in three Pool B matches, and the summer break cannot come soon enough.

Their first-half performance at the Mennaye Field was embarrassing as they were outclassed by the Pirates and trailed 45-0 at the break.

However, they deserve credit for the way they fought back in the second half, only losing it 22-14 after enjoying the majority of the possession, and it will give them some hope ahead of the return fixture with Pirates at Clifton Lane next Saturday.

The Cornishmen were rampant in the first half, running in six tries. The bonus point was wrapped up inside the first 29 minutes, with scrum-half Gavin Cattle, No 8 Kyle Marriott and centre Matt Hopper (2) all crossing, while full-back Rob Cook converted all four and kicked a penalty for a 31-0 lead.

Fly-half Jonny Bentley and former Doncaster winger Wes Davies added further touchdowns before the break, both converted by Cook, and another two tries followed in the opening seven minutes of the second period, from prop Paul Andrew and replacement centre Drew Locke, but Rotherham then came to life.

A superb break by fly-half Juan-Pablo Socino, followed by a quick-tap penalty from Joe Bedford, set up a try for lock Louis McGowan, which Socino converted.

Bentley got his second touchdown in the 67th minute, with Cook converting, before McGowan was driven over again, and Socino added the extras to take Titans into double figures, before James Doherty grabbed Pirates’ 10th try.

Cornigh Pirates: R Cook, G Pointer (R McAtee 49), M Hopper (D Locke 40), T Luke, W Davies, J Bentley, G Cattle (J Doherty 59), P Andrew, D Ward (R Elloway 49), A Paver (C Rimmer 30), M Myerscough (L McGlone 62), B Gulliver, C Morgan, S Betty, K Marriott (P Burgess 40).

Rotherham Titans: B Hunt (J McMahon 72), J Hampsey (J Bedford 24), R Welding, C Hodgson, W Du Randt (P Swatkins 57), J P Socino, M Rhodes, B Harris, J Aikman (A Loney 24), A O’Donnell, L McGowan, R Burrows, S Worrall (R Doneghan 59), S Dougall, D Baines (J Kilbane 62). Unused replacement: A Smidt.

Referee: L Pearce (RFU).