Home truths time for Rotherham Titans after careless defeat

ROTHERHAM Titans head coach Joe Barker has promised that some home truths will be said in training this week in the wake of Saturday's defeat at Sale.
Henry Roberts...his fine individual try at Sale FC was in vain.Henry Roberts...his fine individual try at Sale FC was in vain.
Henry Roberts...his fine individual try at Sale FC was in vain.

A good contingent of travelling supporters made the journey to Heywood Road only to see their team turn in a sloppy display to lose 13-12. Three missed penalty attempts and a failed conversion proved crucial.

Leading 7-5 at half courtesy of a first try for the club for second row Kieran Frost, Rotherham also struck the first blow in the second half with a fine individual score from wing Henry Roberts.

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They then let Sale FC take the initiative, conceding a second try and then a penalty before the lowly home team repelled a late surge to close out the narrowest of wins.

"I agree the match could have flipped it either way, but it shouldn't have been like that," said Barker. "We could have controlled that game and been a lot further ahead at half time. We scored a try off the first play of the second half, a good try, and then we let them back in it.

"It just wasn't good enough. We weren't ruthless enough to finish it off and we were slack in the small areas. We might have been good in the big areas of scrum and maul and things but the small details killed us.

"A lot fans made the trip. They made a massive effort and we've let them down and not performed the way Rotherham should perform and that's frustrating and disappointing.

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"It will be tough this week. We will be harsh and honest with each other but once we've done that and reflected on it, we will go into Thursday firing ready for Loughborough.

"We have to be better this week, simple as."

The result leaves Titans sixth in National One, nine points behind new leaders Ampthill.

More from Clifton Lane in Friday's Advertiser.

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