Rotherham Titans secure "perfect" outcome from relegation battle

ROTHERHAM Titans pumped new life into their National One relegation fight with a crucial win over fellow strugglers Hull Ionians.

Titans ran in four tries to claim a 26-10 victory and a bonus point, trimming the gap to fourth-bottom Birmingham Moseley to six points. Their game at Sale FC was postponed.

Victorious back row Anthony Maka said: "We had talked about this game for a long time and the need to get five points out of it.

"We knew Hull had a strong pack and with the weather how it was, it suited them. We needed to match them and I thought we did. We held them back from playing with the strength of their pack and came out on top."

Ben Robbins races in for Rotherham's first try. Pictures by STEVE METTAM.

In a match played in appalling conditions at Clifton Lane, Rotherham managed to edge 7-3 in front playing by half time despite playing into a strong wind in the first half.

Wing Ben Robbins won a kick and chase to claim the try and then went over again early in the second half before Ionians responded with a converted score from Joe Makin to trim the deficit to 12-10.

Titans didn't panic and helped by the elements they pressed their visitors back and closed out the win with scores by skipper Zak Poole and replacement prop Toby Williams, both converted by Sam Hollingsworth.

Director of rugby Martin Jenkinson said: "It was all about the result. It didn't matter how we got there, as long as we got there.

"Of course we would have taken better weather conditions. We would have backed our boys to play the better rugby had there not been the wind and the rain but it's the same for both teams. You have to play the conditions and I thought by and large we large we did."

Titans now have a free weekend before their next match away to Rams on Saturday week.