REPORT: Frustration as Titans are beaten at the death

TITANS put in a superb second half shift against powerhouse Bedford Blues - only to be beaten by the final kick of the game.
Jake Henry...excellent tryJake Henry...excellent try
Jake Henry...excellent try

Bedford had eased into a 15-0 interval lead thanks to tries from Elliott Clements-Hill and Rich Lane, plus a conversion and penalty from Will Hooley - and with a 75 per cent possession ratio it didn't look good for rock-bottom Rotherham.

But some deft adjustments at the break saw Titans take the game to Bedford, whose usually expansive play was stifled by the narrow Clifton Lane pitch.

The hosts managed to dig out more of the ball and a 48th minute try from Rhodri Davies, nipping through a rare gap in the Blues' cover, put them back in it at 15-7, Lee Millar adding the extras.

Millar then hoisted over a penalty after Alex Rae had been yellow carded just after the hour to make it a one-score game and with Bedford clearly rattled, Rotherham started to find the penetration they had badly lacked in the opening half.

Drew Cheshire almost squeezed through out wide before Jake Henry finished off a peach of a move to cut inside and score his side's second try and level it with eight minutes to go. Millar was inches wide with the conversion.

But in added time, Titans blew it. They had a lineout on their own 5m line but their exit plan went awry and they were bundled straight back into tough, handing the ball to the visitors. They promptly claimed the throw and when Titans went offside, Hooley kept his cool to kick Bedford to victory.

Said coach Nic Rouse afterwards: "We've no complaints about the penalty because our guys know the laws - but it was disappointing that we allowed ourselves to be put in that position by not clearing properly when we had the chance."

There's a full analysis in this week's Advertiser.