Praise for Titans after snow-swept defeat

COACH Nic Rouse gave his side a big pat on the back after a 24-3 home defeat against Premiership-bound Bristol - and admitted it could have been a different story had the snow not played its part.

One key moment was in the tenth minute after a blizzard had left the pitch white-over. Trailing 3-0 to an ealy Ian Madigan penalty, Rotherham kicked a penalty to touch and then set up a driving maul which rumbled over the visitors' line - only for the ball  be grounded OVER the dead ball line because te line had been obscured.

That could have set Rotherham up well, especially as they put in a terrific tackling shift against the Championship table toppers.

"Who knows what might have happened had we got that try," said Rouse aftewrads. "It was just one of those things but I was still proud of the way the boys made Bristol work hard for te wn and it was only late on that we perhaps ran out of steam a little."

Rouse was right, Rotherham defended superbly as they played the first half with the wins and snow in their faces, Madigan striking again to make it just 6-0 at the turn-around.

There were long disussions at the break over whether the game should continue but ref Tim Wigglesworth was happy for it to continue and credit to both sides for keeping going n some of the worst conditions seen at Clifton Lane in a long time.

Bristol went on to boss the second halfwith a clinical performance, Ryan Edwards scoring their first try.

Caolan Ryan put Titans on the boad with a penalty, and then Luke Morahan added a second for Bristol to kill off the game. Madigan aded the remaining points with the boot.

The result leaves Rotherham a step nearer relegation, which can be confirmed in Jersey next week.