MATCH REPORT: Batterered Titans crash to record defeat - and the bottom

TITANS suffered the double embarrassment of suffering their worst-ever defeat as they were hammered 82-3 at London Irish - a result which means they will finish bottom of this year's RFU Championship.

Interim coach Steve Salvin said afterwards "the boys had no more to give" after what has been the worst season in the club's second tier history.

Promotion aspirants Irish were ruthless as they ran in record 12 tries against Rotherham, whose previous worst result in the league had been a 75-13 defeat at Leicester in 2004. Their worst-ever crushing was an 82-19 play-off battering at Bedford six years ago.

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Ironically, Rotherham started well and went in front with a Caolan Ryan penalty after just two minutes after the Exiles had strayed offside.

But just 90 seconds later the barrage began, wing Alex Lewington crossing with ease in the corner after the cover was shredded by good across-the-park ball.

From then onwards it was a savaging, Irish stifling any Rotherham possession with superb line-speed and then ripping them to shreds when they had ball in hand.

Centre Aseli Tikoirotuma made it 14-3 with the second converted try and by half-time  Blair Cowan and Lewington again had scored to make it 28-3.

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Afterwards, Titans' performance - or lack of it - mirrored that of the previous game against Nottingham as energy levels wilted alarmingly and Irish swept to 54 unanswered points, scoring eight tries. Brendan McKibbin (2), Ollie Hoskins, Cowan, Tikoirotuma, Theo Brophy-Clews, Tommy Bell and finally Lewington were the scorers while Rotherham never threatened to score themselves and were limited to a handful of forays in the home 22 during the whole game. Greig Tonks kicked six conversions and Bell added four.

Richmond's victory over Cornish Pirates means they go four points above Rotherham, who would have been relegated but for London Welsh's financial implosion.

Said Salvin afterwards: "The boys just had nothing left they were physically empty. It has been a hard season but we'll regroup and learn from this year."

Catch the full analysis - it'll be hard-hitting - in this week's Advertiser.

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