Mighty Titans stun Bristol

ROTHERHAM Titans pulled off a stunning last- kick win at Bristol this afternoon to start their Championship campaign in style and give coach Andre Bester a triumphant return to the club.

An injury time try by replacement Sam Dickinson, converted by Juan Pablo Socino, secured a 26-24 win at the Memorial Stadium against last year’s play-off finalists.

It was just reward for a gritty display from Bester’s men.

They turned round 18-10 down at half time after playing into a stiff wind in the first period.

Prop Rob O’Donnell scored Rotherham’s first-half try in the 11th minute and centre Juan Pablo Socino tagged on the conversion and a penalty.

Three penalties from Socino kept the Titans in touch in the second half before they struck the killer blow in the 16th minute of stoppage time after the match had gone to uncontested scrums.

BRISTOL: Jack Tovey; Sean Marsden, Jack Adams, Ed Barnes, Dan Norton; Nicky Little, Sam Alford; Mark Irish, Ollie Hayes, Wayne Thompson; Ben Glynn, Roy Winters; Darren Barry, James Merriman, Dan Montagu. Reps: David Blaney, Mako Vunipola, Mariano Sambucetti, Jamie Miller, Richard Bolt, Adrian Jarvis, Jack Gadd.

TITANS: Richard Welding; Peter Swatkins, Jonny Hepworth, Juan Pablo Socino, Brad Hunt ; Cliff Hodgson, Joe Bedford (c); Nico Steenkamp, Alex Loney, Rob O’Donnell; Ben Harris, James Sandford; Ryan Burrows, Dan Baines, Adam Kettle. Reps: Colin Quigley, Anthony O’Donnell, Sam Dickinson, David McGregor, Henry Paul, Matt Rhodes, Nick Buckley.