MATCH REPORT: Titans' lapses prove so costly

Titans went down 31-30 in a match which saw them outscored by five tries to three on home turf, meaning they’ve now lost two of their first three fixtures.

Burnell says that’s not good enough and will today read the riot act when the squad return for training.

“In all fairness to London Scottish they kept playing,” said Burnell. “We just missed too many tackles and when you’re missing one-on-ones and they’re running through us then to be honest that was quite embarrassing.”

But Titans started well, prising open a 10-0 lead by the break thanks to a Charlie Maddison try with Charlie Foley converting to add to an earlier penalty.

Will Robinson came on at half-time and immediately smacked a second penalty to make it 13-0 and it seemed as though Rotherham had the game in the bag.

But Scottish came back superbly to score that nap hand of second half tries.

Scrum half Jamie Stevenson scored the first, converted by Peter Lydon, and then Joe Atkinson peeled from a penalty to touch to score with too much ease as the cover disintegrated.

That made it 14-13 to the visitors and they went further in front when hooker David Cherry was driven over.

But Rotherham put in a good response, drove into the Scots’ 22 and when Cameron Hudson thumped over the line, Robinson converting, they were back in front at 20-19.

But in a ding-dong finish, Scottish reclaimed the lead as Dan Kelly again scored too easily from a lineout to make it 25-19 to the Exiles.

Again Titans reaction was good as, from great Will Owen work Luke Cole scored, Robinson’s extras making it 27-26.

And when Robinson added a penalty to make it a four-point game with four minutes to go it looked all over.

But with a final sting, Scottish went on the front foot in added time, the defence was pulled apart and replacement Patrick Kelly finished off in the corner to spark the visitors’ celebrations — and leave Burnell fuming over the defensive lapses that had proved so costly.