Rotherham Titans 25
Jersey 16
Jersey came away empty-handed from Clifton Lane, as a late penalty
from Juan Pablo Socino deprived the visitors of a losing bonus
point.
The Islanders had battled bravely against a Titans side who went
back to the top of the Greene King IPA Championship table, albeit
only for an hour as Bristol took maximum points against Plymouth in
the 3pm game [Both sides were over-hauled by London Welsh who won
24-31 at Leeds yesterday].
Jersey suffered two early blows, conceding a try to the dangerous
Charlie Mulchrone, and then seeing Drew Locke limp off, to be
replaced by Mark Foster, who was himself a late addition to
Jersey's bench after David Bishop withdrew injured.
But the visitors battled back and Ben Maidment finished off a
superb break by Mark McCrea.
The home team's top scorer, hooker Tom Cruse, claimed his side's
second try but Titans led just 14-13 approaching the break after
Niall O'Connor added two penalties to his earlier conversion.
By half-time it was 19-16, Michael Keating claiming a third try
for Roth and O'Connor adding a further penalty.
The conditions worsened after half-time with the wind making life
difficult, especially for the kickers. Jersey's defence frustrated
the home side, but also earned a warning from the referee for
repeated infringement, and then a yellow card for Joe Buckle, plus
a penalty which Socino landed just before the hour (22-16).
Both sides pressed for another try - Roth to earn a four-try bonus
point and kill off the match, and Jersey seeking a notable scalp.
McCrea came closest but lost the ball in the tackle close to the
try-line after another incisive break, and then in added time a
scrum penalty in front of the posts gave Socino the chance to have
the final say.
Nottingham's late win at home to Bedford yesterday means Jersey
slip to 10th place in the table, with 7 points, ahead of Moseley on
matches won. Notts and Bedford sat 8th and 9th, with 9 points each,
while Ealing remain anchored to the foot of the table and yet to
register a point.
ROTHERHAM: Sean Scanlon, Jamie Broadley, Jack
Roberts, Juan Pablo Socino, Michael Keating, Dallan Murphy, Charlie
Mulchrone; Marshall Gadd (Mike Dias 80),Tom Cruse, Colin Quigley
(Mark Tampin 61), Ben Thomas (Barney Maddison 73), Dan Sanderson,
Alex Rieder, Ali Birch, Ed Williamson (Alfie To'oala 58, Jack
Preece 80). Not used: Dan White, Joel Gill.
JERSEY: Aaron Penberthy, Mark McCrea, Grant
Pointer, Drew Locke (Mark Foster 9), Ed Dawson, Niall O'Connor,
Nick Griffiths (Jimmy Williams 75); Sean McCarthy (Tom Fidler 55),
Dave Felton (Luke Stratford 70), David Young (Nick Selway 75), Nick
Campbell (Dave Markham 78), Alex Rae, Ben Maidment, Joe Buckle, Tom
Brown (James Voss 75).
Referee: John Meredith
Attendance: 1,287
Yellow Card: Buckle (Jersey) 57
Scorers
Rotherham
Tries: Mulchrone (6), Cruse (23) Keating (36)
Conversions: Socino x 2
Penalties: Socino x 2
Jersey
Try: Maidment (18)
Conversion: O'Connor
Penalties: O'Connor x 3
