Rotherham Titans 21 Cornish Pirates 13: Titans ready for sternest test and revenge mission

Rotherham begin preparing today for arguably their toughest Championship fixture – Sunday’s game at Ashton Gate against Bristol, the top side in the league.
Rotherham Titans' Tom Cruse scores. (Picture: Scott Merrylees)Rotherham Titans' Tom Cruse scores. (Picture: Scott Merrylees)
Rotherham Titans' Tom Cruse scores. (Picture: Scott Merrylees)

Having won their last five games, three in the British and Irish Cup and two in the Championship against Yorkshire Carnegie and now Cornish Pirates, Rotherham travel to the West Country with genuine confidence and with determination to be highly competitive against opponents who beat them five times last season.

As the Titans showed at Clifton Lane during a close battle against a big Pirates pack, their forwards are now much harder and significantly stronger in defence, one of the main reasons why Rotherham are fourth in the Championship on 22 points with five victories from seven games.

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A wet pitch and mist prevented a flowing encounter, so it was not a surprise that both sides made several, careless handling mistakes during a contest in which solid defending stood out rather than enterprise and slick back play.

Having said that, the Titans’ second and match-winning try by winger Michael Keating on 74 minutes, was the result of quick thinking and clever support play from replacement scrum-half Andy Davies and full-back Sean Scanlon.

As Rotherham tried to break the deadlock at 13-13, the Irishman joined the backline to create an opening for his fellow countryman Keating, who shot through a gap in the Pirates defence.

Rotherham led 18-13, so the Cornishmen were still hopeful of leaving with a losing bonus point. Indeed, they probably would have won if they had scored on 64 minutes when the pack was applying pressure on the Rotherham line.

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However, No 8 Matthew Bolwell knocked on and from the ensuing scrum, Rotherham’s forwards were outstanding, forcing Pirates to concede a penalty.

The Titans survived and prevented Pirates adding a second try to the converted score by prop Paul Andrew which produced a scoreline of 13-all with more than 20 minutes remaining.

Rotherham took advantage of that turning point by creating and taking Keating’s opportunity, and then displayed the required ruthlessness to deprive Pirates of a bonus point.

In the first minute of stoppage-time, Pirates conceded a 13th penalty only yards from the posts. Rotherham could have chosen to kick for touch and taken the lineout from which the pack would have been confident of scoring.

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Instead, the safer option was adopted as fly-half James McKinney kicked his third penalty and one which meant that Pirates left Clifton Lane without any return.

Earlier, after a dreary first-half in which both teams struggled to make an impact, Rotherham’s pace and handling improved. The pack, in which hooker Tom Cruse and flanker Ali Birch shone, advanced to set up a try on 43 minutes for Cruse, a score that did much to establish a measure of control.

Once again, 19-year-old scrum- half James Mitchell, on loan from Sale Sharks and recently selected for England Under-20s duty, revealed his class, sharp intelligence and ability to spot an opening on his home Championship debut.

“Hopefully, I will be able to stay for the rest of the season. The boys and the coach, Lee Blackett have made me feel at home and Rotherham’s style is right up my street,” said Mitchell, who attended Lymm High School, which also developed England and Saracens wing David Strettle, whose professional career began at Rotherham.

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“Playing Championship rugby is really enjoyable, but at 19 it’s a hard league that is physically very tough. I am learning a lot each game and if I can get a regular match here, I’d love to play at Rotherham.”

Rotherham Titans: Scanlon, Dowsett (Keating 40), Gill, J Davies, Wilson, McKinney, Mitchell (A Davies 47), Hislop (Williams 60), Cruse, Tampin (Thiede 51), Parker (Maddison 70), Holmes, Rieder, Birch, Ryan (Preece 58).

Cornish Pirates: May, Goss, Bodilly, Dancer, Holland, Hallett, Kessell, P Andrew (K Davies 66), Channon, J Andrew (Paver 73), Garrett (Graulich 75), Barry, Morgan, Atkinson, Bolwell (Conlon 75).

Referee: A Jackson.