Titans chief Codling ‘devastated’ by defeat

The Titans fought back in the second half against opponents who are second from bottom and the forwards set up several positions from which they should have scored.

Jersey led by 13-3 but Rotherham, in an evenly-contested game, recovered powerfully.

Scrum-half Charlie Mulchrone scored a thrilling try from a lineout on 68 minutes and with fly-half Garry Law converting, Rotherham were only three points adrift.

The Titans’ pack continued to win more than sufficient ball to have scored another try during the last 10 minutes but possession was spilled and Jersey’s forwards defended their line effectively.

Rotherham also felt that the referee could have been kinder during the climax as he appeared not to be aware of Jersey’s infringements.

The Channel Islanders’ No 8, try-scorer Guy Thompson, was a constant threat at the break-down in a match played on a sodden surface.

“I’m devastated,” said Titans’ coach Alex Codling. “In the last 20 minutes we coughed three or four scoring opportunities in what was always going to be a close game.

“Towards the end, we were on top and props Marshall Gadd and Gareth Denman were outstanding.”

Rotherham have still to re-arrange their postponed British and Irish Cup tie against Aberavon.

Jersey: Davies, Maggs, Bishop, Cooper (Broadfoot 69), Dawson, Le Bourgeois, Griffiths, McCarthy (Barrington 69), Felton, Brennan (Gethings 36), hannay, Markham, Lang (Nihill 46), Buckle, Thompson.

Rotherham Titans: F Mulchrone, Doneghan, Blackett, Nonu (McKinney 65), Sheridan, Law, C.Mulchrone, Gadd, Stagg, Denman (Davies 59), Thomas, Sanderson, Makaafi, Ellyatt (Freeman 52), Rieder (Pitman 46).

Referee: S Lee.