Coach's praise as 12-try Rotherham Titans crush Rams to close in on promotion
TEAM chief Harvey Biljon paid tribute to Rotherham Titans as they moved within touching distance of promotion with a thumping win over Rams.
Titans won 80-7 at a sunny Clifton Lane to rack up their biggest win of the season, complete with 12 tries and a hat-trick from wing James Norman.
Rotherham remain four points clear at the top of National One and close to ending their eight-year absence from the Championship with two games to go.
Biljon said: "Last season and probably the season before that Rams were the favourites and we have always considered them real candidates.
"I was probably more nervous today than the players were but they have a bit of self belief and confidence now.
"The basis for that performance comes from our training. We didn’t let up and just went relentlessly through our processes over and over.
"We were also able to manage the changes in the team when injuries have hit us. Players have been ready come in and perform and that’s a really healthy place for the squad to be.”
Rotherham produced some of their best rugby of the season to blow Rams away
Even though James Norman’s early score was cancelled out by a score under the sticks from the visitors, Titans were relentless.
Two tries from Lloyd Hayes and another from Mitchell Lacey-Babalola helped them into a 26-7 lead and secured the four-try bonus point.
With the wind at the backs playing towards the clubhouse end in the second half, the leaders turned the screw.
An attempted clearance from Rams which blew back into their own 22 fell for Norman to claim his second try of the day and then big John Okafor ran in from Isaac Shaw’s feed.
Two tries from Callum Bustin took the score past the half-century mark and it was a case of “how many” after that.
Okafor sent bodies scattering and set up a try for Shaw and Norman completed his try hat-trick before touchdowns from Xavier Valentine and Shaw added the gloss.
Hayes slotted ten conversions to seal a commanding win and a personal tally of 20 points.
Scrum-half JB Bruzulier said: “The boys have sacrificed a lot, especially in the second half of the season. We all know what’s a stake so to put in a performance like that was great.
"Rams at certain times played really well and tested us but credit to our forward pack and our backs and our defence. We’re very composed and trust each other and trust is a huge thing at this part of the season.”
Titans go to struggling Sedgley Park next Saturday before hosting fourth-placed Sale FC on the final day.