It's a win and we're happy with that: Titans

COACH Justin Burnell says he’s happy with the Titans’ second win of the season as they overcame basement boys Richmond in London - even though they became the first team to fail to claim a bonus point against the newcomers.

Tries from Will Thomas and Will Goodwin were enough to see off the tenacious hosts in an 181-8 win but it’s clear that Rotherham will need to up their game ahead of this Saturday’s home clash with Yorkshire Carnegie.

In a difficult start, Titans went in front through a Thomas penalty only for Richmond — a completely amateur team — to level through Rob Kirby and then go ahead as good hands across the backs saw Chris Davies score in the corner.

The conversion missed and at 8-3 down against a side who had shipped a half century of  points the previous week against Doncaster there were some worried looks in the visitors’ camp.

But two slices of fortune saw them home.

The first came when Richmond spilled the ball in midfield, Jack Hayes broke well for Titans, over-rode calls for a forward pass and gave Thomas a clear run to the sticks.

That made it 10-8 at the break and seven minutes after the restart Rotherham went further ahead when a horrendous kick by Toby Quarendon was picked off by Thomas, he broke and put a sweet kick through for Goodwin to collect and score.

Thomas missed the easy conversion but did add a second penalty on the hour and that’s how it stayed.

Said Burnell: “It’s always difficult to come to a place like Richmond and we have to be happy with the win points.”

You can find the full match reaction in Friday’s Advertiser.