Rotherham's devastating third-quarter burst made the difference
in a pulsating eight-try encounter against Jersey.
The Titans scored 27 points between half-time and the 61st
minute to move clear of their opponents; the Islanders fought back
and gained two bonus points in defeat, but the visitors kept their
noses in front to nail down the win.
"There were a few harsh words at half-time because I felt that
we'd played some good rugby but wasted lots of opportunities," said
Rotherham's Head Coach Lee Blackett. "There was a definite
improvement and our scrum was especially powerful.
"I think the team may have switched off - that's something we'll
have to look at - but when things mattered they really fronted up
in the final minutes."
Blackett added: "Jersey have some real quality in their ranks
and are beginning to deliver some performances - I expect them to
be in and around the top six. The league is getting stronger and we
will have to improve ourselves if we want to challenge for the top
four again."
The Islanders had the perfect start within three minutes when a
loose ball was gathered by Ryan Hodson and fed to Martin
Garcia-Veiga, who passed to Nick Haining who bounded 30 metres to
score.
James McKinney replied for Titans with an unconverted try, but
there was only one more score before the break - Jersey's Tommy
Bell had three penalty attempts but could only land one of
them.
The first scrum of the second period led to a second try for the
Yorkshiremen - Jersey's put-in was lost and Alex Rieder seized the
ball and charged over. The boot of McKinney kept the scoreboard
ticking over and then replacement Willie Ryan scored an identical
try from another botched scrum by Jersey and Michael Keating
finished off a 70-metre kick-chase after Jersey had lost
possession.
Jersey's rolling maul had looked a potent weapon and was
responsible for two tries and a yellow card for Titans hooker Tom
Cruse. With around six minutes to play and another visiting player,
skipper Tom Holmes, despatched to the sin-bin for spoiling tactics,
Drew Locke charged down the right and fed Haining for the flanker's
second try.
Turning down a kick at goal that could have earned a draw,
Jersey pressed for victory via a fifth try, but Rotherham were able
to repel a series of attacks, win a penalty and celebrate as the
final whistle sounded.
"The players fought back really well, with some great support
from the crowd and can hold their heads high - there was some real
emotion from both the players and the supporters that made for a
tremendous occasion," said Jersey Head Coach Harvey Biljon. "We are
moving in the right direction, but there is still a lot of work to
do and we have to achieve greater consistency in what we do and
continue to learn to adapt to the interpretations of the
officials.
"Rotherham are a serious outfit - there's a reason why they were
in the play-offs last year and will be contenders again this
season."
Report: Tom Innes
Pics: Emma Glendenning
Jersey: Bell, Foster (Bishop 65), Locke,
Robling, Burroughs (McCrea 52), Bentley, Glynn (Dudley 63); Lancuba
(Herriott 55), Garcia-Veiga (Harris 68), Williams (Lancuba 60),
Phillips (Markham 60), Rae (capt), Haining, Hodson, Noone (Kaho
55).
Rotherham Titans: Scanlon, Keating (Hayes 63),
Gill, Davies, Broadley, McKinney (Barrett 59), White (McGaffin 56);
Hislop (Williams 59), Cruse (YC 46), Thiede (Tampin 56), Morris
(Parker 50), Holmes (capt) (YC 68), Birch (Ryan 56), Preece,
Rieder.
Referee: David Proctor (RFU)
Attendance: 2,384
Man-of-the-match (as chosen by match sponsor IFM
Trust): Nick Haining (Jersey)
Half-time: 10-5
Scorers
Jersey
Tries: Haining 3, 73, Hodson 47, Penalty Try 67
Conversions: Bell 3, 67, 73
Penalty: Bell 37
Rotherham
Tries: McKinney 9, Rieder 42, Ryan 58, Keating 61
Conversions: McKinney 42, 58, Barrett 61
Penalty: McKinney 50
Drop goal: McKinney 53
