Titans suffer crucial defeat

TITANS will spend the week doing plenty of soul searching after suffering a heavy home defeat against Richmond.
Try...for Will Thomas against Richmond. Picture by ANDY GARNERTry...for Will Thomas against Richmond. Picture by ANDY GARNER
Try...for Will Thomas against Richmond. Picture by ANDY GARNER

The Clifton Lane men went down 37-22 against a side tipped as relegation fodder. More importantly it now means that Rotherham are now nine points — two wins — behind their rivals and six adrift of London Scottish.

Coach Andy Key underlined the feelings at the club. “To say we are disappointed with the result doesn’t start to summarise it," he said. "We are massively disappointed. 

"Collectively we need to be very disappointed in our overall performance and in our individual performance. That is not a performance by any shadow of doubt."

Titans did have good spells but they struggled to compete against a cohesive Richmond outfit who kept the ball well and looked a much better suide than last term.

Frustrations were compounded because Titans twice led early on to tries from Toby Williams and Ben Foley, only for the Londoners to hit back and lead 20-14 by the break.

In the second half Titans fell further being to a Rob Kirby penalty and even though they had a spell of bossing possession in the visiting 22 they couldn't make any headway.

And when Richmond went down to 14 men after a yellow card, it should have given Key's men the impetus to kick on — but they instead conceded a third try to fall 30-17 adrift.

Will Thomas did pull one back to give the home men a glimmer of hope but that was snuffed out when Richmond had the final say of a tortuous day for the hosts when they drove over four a bonus point try.

Rotherham now have to pick up the pieces as they head to Bedford this Saturday, the Blues having won 15-13 at Jersey on Saturday.

 

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