RUGBY UNION: More to come as Rotherham Titans start milestone season with eight-try victory

They ran in eight tries in a 52-24 beating of newly promoted Billingham as the club’s centenary season got off to a strong start.

The visitors, looking to run the ball from all areas of the field, played their full part in an entertaining contest and scored three tries of their own.

Pearce said: "We were disappointed to concede some simple tries in the first half. We gave them 17 points and we’re better than that really. We spoke at half time about defence and we nilled them second half so that’s a pleasing part for us.

"We scored eight tries and we probably should have scored 12. No disrespect to them but we should have put 60 or 70 points on them quite comfortably.

"The lads got excited with the sun and the way Billingham played made it a more open game than we wanted but it’s a starting point for us. We got five league points and we won.

"We are going to get better as this month progresses and they are probably not the best side to face first because they play a very unstructured game which makes you play an unstructured game if you fall foul of it which we did a little bit.

"The guys still had a good run-out and we scored some entertaining tries ourselves.”

Lloyd Hayes, last season’s leading points scorer in National Two North, crossed the whitewash twice and slotted six conversions.

New boys Laurence Cowan-Leak, Jack Townend and Luke Cole were also on the try sheet with more established Titans campaigners Rupert Kay, Jack Bergmanas and Tomasi Tanami.

Added Pearce: “Lloyd was the best player on the field I would say and our front five went well and the scrum was good. We probably didn’t use the ball that well that they gave us but it’s the best full game we’ve played so far and we’re still in a settling down process.”

Titans are away to Wharfedale – 22-21 opening-day winners against Lymm – on Saturday.