Titans suffer another heavy defeat

Saturday’s 51-12 battering on home soil against Ealing means Justin Burnell’s side will slip to the bottom if Richmond win their game in hand.

It was another poor performance from Rotherham but their chances of upsetting the play-off chasers suffered a damning blow when Miles Normandale was sent off just 17 minutes in for kicking an opponent.

But even with a full side, they wouldn’t have been strong enough to combat the big-spending Londoners, who ran in six tries and should have had several more.

Ealing nosed in front with a Rory Clegg penalty four minutes in and never looked back.

Two first half tries from Kieran Murphy, one from Luke Carter and a fourth from Will Harriers, all converted by debutant Clegg, signed in the week from Glasgow Warriors, plus two further penalties saw them storm into a 37-0 interval lead.

Disjointed Rotherham were better in the second period and gleaned tries from Joe Rees, from a pushover after 47 minutes, and winger Tom Collins, from an interception on the hour.

Ealing certainly took their foot off the gas after the break but still managed further scores from Rayn Smid and Sam Rodman while messing up three other try-scoring opportunities.

Said Burnell afterwards: “The red card certainly hurt us. That was the moment we lost the game.”

Titans don’t play this weekend but head to Jersey the following week and conclude their season at home to Nottingham and away to champions-elect London Irish.

There’s a full analysis — plus a look at where Rotherham go from here — in this Friday’s Advertiser.