Titans know fast start will be essential as Bristol loom

The South Yorkshire club are the surprise package in the race for promotion which comes down to the crunch in two weeks time, with Titans facing Bristol in the semi-final.

As well as they have done in rising from mid-table security to the promotion picture in under 12 months, their failure to beat any of the other three play-off teams this season leaves them as clear underdogs in the race for the Premiership.

Their defeat to Leeds Carnegie at Abbeydale Stadium in Sheffield nine days ago offered a snapshot into what has gone wrong in their games against the big three.

Rotherham – who finished their season with a 36-29 victory at Ealing Trailfinders – started so slowly, the game was out of reach by half-time as they trailed 24-0.

Indeed, on only one occasion – London Welsh at home – have Rotherham started well against a promotion rival and not left themselves too much to do.

And Preece, one of a number of standout performers in the pack this season, says they need to learn the lessons quickly or this remarkable campaign will meet a disappointing end.

“It’s a massive problem we need to look at,” said the West Country expat. “Last week, the week before, we’ve really let ourselves down.

“We know we’ve got to show up for the first 20 and in recent weeks we haven’t been.

“Against any top-three team you know if you have a bad first 20 you leave yourselves too much to do to catch up, whereas with the teams below us you can get away with it, like we did the week before against Cornish Pirates.

“But against Leeds, if you don’t turn up for the first 20 you can lose a game. It’s a shame we don’t do it in the first half because we come out second half and throw the kitchen sink at teams and we always come back really well. If we start like that we’d have probably won the six games we’ve lost.”

Rotherham’s inability to fly out of the blocks is undermining what has been a terrific season under first-year coach Lee Blackett.

They have run Bristol close on both occasions, with that unwanted habit of starting slowing counting against them each time.

For Preece, the responsibility lies with the players.

“It’s down to our mindset,” he said. “Lee does everything he can preparing us and sending us out, it’s all about the players’ mindset and it will be tough in the play-offs if we don’t learn our lessons quickly.

“If we can get a lead in that first 20, or even just three points behind against the teams in the play-offs, we’re in with a shout because second half we’re usually at the top of our game.

“But we need to get on top of that now, otherwise we’re in trouble.”

Rotherham now have a much needed break to prepare for the first of the promotion play-offs against Bristol.

One of the priorities is to ensure that flanker Ali Birch (sprained ankle) and prop Mark Tampin (concussion and leg injury) make a full recovery from the damage they suffered at Vallis Way where Rotherham, who have finished in fourth place, won their 17th league game out of 23.

The Titans’ victory, during a performance falling well below their high standards and Jersey’s win at Bedford, made certain that Ealing were relegated.

As Rotherham contemplate the first of two games against Bristol, they know that a significant improvement is required if they are to be seriously competitive and if they are to overturn three consecutive defeats this season by the Championship leaders.

The Titans will be reinforced by the return of forwards Dan Sanderson and Tom Cruse, and second rows Ben Thomas and Josh Thomas-Brown should also be available.

Winger Michael Keating, who missed the game at Ealing where Rotherham won by five tries to four, will also be back as should scrum-half Dan White.

Rotherham finished the first part of the league campaign on 80 points, an excellent return, from a side that has played fluent, attacking rugby which has brought success against all the clubs except Bristol, London Welsh and Leeds.

Two tries each by winger Curtis Wilson and scrum-half Charlie Mulchrone, and one from centre Jordan Davies, typified the style and approach introduced by coach Blackett, but he was far from pleased with the second-half display in which Ealing recovered strongly from a half-time deficit of 22-3 to score four tries.

The last 30 minutes were controlled by the west Londoners and as they cut the gap to only seven points, Rotherham were grateful they had earlier scored tries on 49 and 57 minutes to set up an eventual but narrow win and a maximum of five points.

As they now start planning for the first of two games against Bristol, Blackett will be insisting that errors at Ealing will not be repeated – giving possession away and inadequate support play among them.

Results and tables: Page 10.

Ealing Trailfinders: Henderson, Kinloch, McClean-Dents, Bedford, Chesters, Ward, Thompson, Storer, Radoi, Carey, Preocanin, Curry, Evans, Siggery, O’Connell.

Rotherham Titans: Scanlon, Broadley, Davies (Socino 54), Roberts (Gill 54), Wilson, Law (Murphy 54), Mulchrone, Williams (Gadd 58), Preece, Quigley (Tampin 51), Rieder, Holmes, Morris, Birch (Matthews 58), To’oala.

Referee: D Richards (RFU).