Rotherham Titans 22 Leeds Carnegie 18: Titans strike early to deny Leeds side finding it difficult to adapt

A top-class and vigorous first-half performance by Rotherham’s forwards, which set up an interval lead of 19-3, ensured that the Titans just managed, eventually, to clinch a highly-competitive derby at Clifton Lane.

In a tense climax, which saw the Titans reduced to 14 men, the home side withstood a strong second-half recovery by Leeds, who nevertheless have now lost both their Championship matches since being relegated from the Premiership.

However, their second-half improvement did result in a losing bonus point, but it is clear on the evidence from their opening two Championship games that Leeds require an urgent transformation, in form and attitude, if they are to be consistently competitive this season and stand any chance of an immediate return to the top flight.

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Rotherham, having been rather ordinary in their first match the previous weekend against London Scottish, exploited the hostile atmosphere at Clifton Lane and fully- deserved their first win of the new campaign.

A rampaging run by flanker Robin Copeland which split the Leeds defence established a 17-3 lead late in the first half and, with fly-half Garry Law kicking the conversion – the Scotsman also put over five penalties in an exemplary kicking display – Rotherham led comfortably 19-3.

By contrast, in a swirling wind, Law’s opposite number Joe Ford suffered an afternoon he will be glad to forget – missing four penalties and a conversion.

In fairness to the Leeds fly-half he did strike a penalty, one conversion and a drop-goal.

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Leeds’s pack may have been out-played before the interval, but in the second half a spirited revival caused several anxious moments for Rotherham who came perilously close to committing rugby’s version of suicide by giving away 10 second-half penalties.

Leeds almost capitalised successfully on these errors, but the award of a penalty try on 71 minutes and then a try on 80 minutes by replacement hooker Phil Nilsen did not prove to be sufficient.

The Leeds pack, containing two former Rotherham players, Ryan Burrows and Jon Pendlebury, can be praised for cutting Rotherham’s lead to 22-13 and then to only 22-18, giving a glimpse of a late win, but their collective first-half failure aided the Titans.

Leeds’s weakness in defence had earlier allowed flanker Copeland to score a thrilling try on his Rotherham home debut – an influential moment in a tight game.

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“Everyone felt good at half time in the dressing room because we said that’s how to play rugby. It’s great to get a try under your belt in your first game at home,” he said.

“In the second half, we did give away penalties and I think it was our own mistakes. You can’t blame the referee and we have to rectify them.”

That is precisely one of the main factors which needs to be addressed by Leeds as captain and former England hooker Andy Titterrell made bluntly clear.

“In the first half, individuals didn’t turn up and they need to take a look at themselves and make themselves accountable because you can’t carry players this season,” said Titterell. “We have objectives we want to reach as a club and it’s a harsh world out there.

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“The match video won’t lie. We had difficulties in the scrum in the first half and we didn’t do enough, but in the second we pulled together a lot more.

“But it’s hard to defend against a game pattern the way Rotherham play, but we have a point, so we are off the mark and we will try to build on it. We’ve now got Bristol on Sunday at Headingley and it comes down to individuals rocking up with an attitude and showing they want to play with a desire and willingness to win.”

If Rotherham are to achieve their ambition of reaching the Championship play-offs again, the aggressive style adopted by the forwards will be a major factor in any success that coach Andre Bester may attain.

On the evidence at Clifton Lane yesterday any future Rotherham success could well be the result of accurate goal-kicking, from new signing Garry Law.

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Playing in Italy last season, the Scotsman from Hawick has settled in well in his new South Yorkshire surroundings.

“This win is the first step of many towards an improvement ,” he said. “While we’re not getting carried away, if we play consistently we’ve a chance that we can make the top four. If you’ve got the commitment that’s half the battle.”

Rotherham Titans: Hodgson, Monaghan, Godfrey, Nonu, Homan, Law, Williams (Rhodes 78), Kilbane (Cahill 59), Baines, Hooper, Patrick (Harris 68), Griffiths, Copeland (Vaioleti 78), Dougall, Taulava.

Leeds Carnegie: McColl, Blackett, Thornley (Barker 49), Barrow, Wilson, Ford, Hampson (White 59), Denman, Titterrell (Nilsen 59), Young (Swainston 49), Denton, Hohneck, Pendlebury, Rowan, Burrows.

Referee: S Lee (RFU).

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