Indiscipline costs Rotherham Titans in early league defeat

ROTHERHAM Titans suffered an early-season jolt as they fell to defeat at Hull Ionians on Saturday and ended the game with 13 men.

The trip to Brantingham Park to face a team expected to be there or thereabouts in National Two North always looked tricky and that’s how it proved, ending in a 27-22 loss.

Tries from Sam Veall, Harry Dunne and Corben Ollivent, plus seven points from the boot of Lloyd Hayes, had promotion hopefuls Rotherham 22-21 up at half time before indiscipline cost them in the second half as three players received yellow cards.

Two of them came from late deliberate knock-ons, serving up late penalties that were gratefully converted by Louis Minikin to decide the match in the home team’s favour.

It was Ionians’ first ever victory over Rotherham, the consolation being a losing bonus point to add to the five from the opening-day win against Harrogate.

Blaydon come to Clifton Lane on Saturday (2pm).