Honour in defeat for Rotherham
The only side to defeat the big-spending visitors this term has been leaders Bristol but Andy Key’s men pushed them hard, securing a bonus point and seeing two-try scrum-half Will Porter cause them all sorts of problems.
When Ealing scored via Harry Casson after just five minutes, it would have been easy to envisage the South Yorkshire side – who have lost all seven league games – enduring yet another painful afternoon at Clifton Lane
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Hide AdHowever, fly-half Caolan Ryan hit back with a penalty before Drew Cheshire’s fine break saw Porter score and Ryan force a 10-7 lead. Ealing’s Mark Bright crashed over from a 5m scrum but Ryan added his second penalty, only to then see the away side go in ahead following a classy try from Will Harries.
Replacement fly-half Peter Lydon put them 20-13 ahead at the start of the second period but Porter once more struck.
However, Ryan could not convert to level and, instead, Lydon’s injury-time penalty made sure.