Rotherham Titans 29 Coventry 3: Titans open in style but no room for complacency

Relegation play-offsRotherham's Canadian international flanker Adam Kleeberger, who scored two tries and created one for three-quarter Michael Whitehead, delivered an outstanding individual performance to ensure that the Titans started their survival campaign successfully at Clifton Lane.

Kleeberger, 26, capped 25 times by Canada, scored on 37 and 58 minutes to seize opportunities which underlined Rotherham's superiority during the battle between the two packs. The forward from Vancouver in British Columbia also excelled in defence.

The open-side flanker, always close to the ball, has grown in stature in the last six games, and his speed and ability to open gaps in the opposition's defence was illustrated 10 minutes into the second half.

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Kleeberger's counter-attack caused havoc and realising he probably could not score himself, the Canadian sensibly passed to Whitehead, who completed the move to stretch Rotherham's control to 19-3.

The Titans, who later scored two more tries to clinch a maximum of five points, can be highly satisfied but should not be complacent as they prepare for Saturday's much tougher contest in the West Midlands against Moseley, who will be determined to recover from their astonishing 24-17 defeat by Birmingham and Solihull, the league's bottom club and weakest team in the Championship before the relegation play-offs began.

Rotherham's important bonus point was not earned until the 85th minute. As the side increased the pressure to score a fourth try, Kevin Maggs, the former Bath, Bristol and Ireland centre, threw out a long and high pass to Andrew Henderson on the wing.

The former Newbury back needed to leap to take the ball and cleverly retained his balance to keep it in play. Henderson, operating in little space, then fought his way over Coventry's line to clinch a try which confirmed Rotherham's vigorous and confident approach towards the priority of maintaining their Championship status.

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"I think that a lot of the time this season we've been in disarray, but this time we all came together and played as an entire unit," explained Kleeberger.

"We've had two average games against Moseley, so we definitely owe them one. They are a very physical team, so we have to match them physically, but we have superior skills which we can use to break them.

"The Championship is a big step up from where I was playing in Canada. We don't have a professional league and have a lot of guys who work nine to five and have to fit training into their schedule. So here, you are coming up against guys whose rugby is the main thing in their life," remarked the Canadian.

Kleeberger may well have been Rotherham's best all-round forward, but others in a match-winning effort by the pack also contributed significantly against a mediocre Coventry team which threatened to score only in the last 15 minutes.

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No 8 Ryan Burrows rampaged frequently and Irish prop Anton O'Donnell willingly smashed his body into opponents as he took the ball on.

Overall, Rotherham's forwards dominated possession and territory; the comfortable margin of victory would have been wider still if Whitehead and Jonny West had not missed six kicks at the posts between them.

"We are happy, but we are not getting carried away, and in the last 15 minutes we made a lot of mistakes," said coach Craig West.

"I was happy with our defenders because Coventry came close to our line two or three times. The squad is working hard for each other and I told them that Moseley is going to be a big game for us because they will be on a low after losing to the Bees. They'll be at home, too, and we'll have to be ready."

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Rotherham begin their preparations for the Moseley game knowing that their back line will be weakened by the absence of Brad Hunt. The full-back sprained his ankle ligaments after only 15 minutes and had to be replaced by West.

However, Rotherham's forwards will be strengthened by the return from injury of Leeds lock Tom Denton.

Rotherham Titans: Hunt (West 15), Henderson, Maggs, Gidlow, Swatkins (Feeley 58), Whitehead, Chivers (Allen 74), O'Donnell, Batty (Conroy 58), Prescott (Voisey 54), Challinor, Barnes (Hayter 74), Swindall (Du Plessis 54), Kleeberger, Burrows.

Coventry: Mahony, Plantey, Mackenzie, C Lewis, J Lewis, Russell, Jones, Maddocks (Dugard 67), McMillan, Hall (Roberts 78), Herrington, McGowan (Brenton 58), Askew, Bignell (Pons 61), Shaw.

Referee: S Lewis (RFU).

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