Rotherham Titans secured the narrowest of victories against second place side Sedgley Park as they ran out 13-12 winners in a very tense and edgy affair, on a cold and wet afternoon at Clifton lane.
In a tale of two halves Titans dominated the first 40 and went in at the break 13-0 up, but the visitors from the North West had the better of things in the second half.
Indeed, had Sedgley Park fly half Steve Collins managed to nail his conversion with the final kick of the game, he would have inflicted the first defeat of the season on the South Yorkshire side.
However, that was not meant to be and Rotherham remain unbeaten after 13 games and move up into second spot in the league, five points behind Hull, but with 2 games in hand.
The game itself, as expected, was an intensely-fought contest, with neither side giving quarter easily. Indeed the home side had to defend ferociously in the opening exchanges as the visitors laid siege deep inside their 22.
However, having successfully repelled Sedgley’s early onslaught Roth took hold of the game and enjoyed much of what was to follow in the half.
Roth’s first score didn’t arrive until the end of the first quarter, but it was one worth waiting for.
From halfway fly half Matt Minogue put in a lovely chip over the top for skipper Zak Poole to collect and make good ground into the 22, before he found Matt Challinor in support, who in turn shipped on to hooker Harry Newborn who jinked back inside the last defender to dot down under the sticks for a brilliant try. Minogue added the extras.
The second quarter saw Titans pretty much dominate all aspects of the match and although Matt Minogue added two penalties to give Roth a 13-0 advantage, the home side would have felt they should returned a higher points tally for their superiority.
Indeed the second half was a different affair altogether as Sedgley Park found some momentum and enjoyed some long periods of possession.
On 42 minutes Sedgley hooker Matt Gallagher finished off nicely next to the sticks following a good line break and fly half Steve Collins tagged over the extras to reduce Park’s arrears.
Titans did have their moments in the second half and opportunities arose to extend their advantage. Unfortunately for them a lost line-out on the Sedgley line and a kick to the corner which didn’t find touch were just two occasions Roth let slip, all of which left them with a nervy finish to try and navigate.
In the tenth minute of injury time and with the final play of the game Sedgley set up a driving maul and despite some heroic defending by the home side, hooker Matt Gallagher managed to squeeze over for a try to make it 13-12.
Up stepped Steve Collins to take the conversion from about 15 metres infield. Unfortunately for him and Sedgley, the ball just missed the right upright to leave him and his side devastated and give Roth the victory.
Both sides will feel they deserved the win and both sides can take pride in how they went about their business.
Speaking immediately after the game Titans’ Adam Byron said:
“I was pleased that we got over the line. I couldn’t have been happier with how the first half went, I thought we controlled the game really well and our game management was spot on in the first 40.
“That dropped off a little bit in the second half and I think we have to put our hands up and say we didn’t control the game as well in the second period.
“We let what is a very good side back into the match and we used our get out of jail free card right at the end with the missed conversion; but we’ll take the win all day long.
“The boys deserve a huge amount of credit for the shift they put in; our defensive effort was outstanding. We spoke beforehand about being willing to put bodies on the line and showing a big heart; and to a man that’s what they did.
“Another pleasing thing is Sedgley are one of the most organised attacking sides in the division and they only had two line breaks in the whole of the game. The lads kept their spacing’s really well and that paid dividends in the end.
“With all due respect to some other teams we have played, we have gone into those games looking to get 5 points. Today was a big game for us against one of the best sides in the division and one of our closest rivals and the aim was simply to try and get the win!
“So we are delighted we got that and also delighted that we have notched up another win against one of the top sides.
“That’s 13 games undefeated now and that requires a lot of effort from the boys, it means they have to be switched on every week; it’s a very good standard in this league and so to be still unbeaten at this stage means we have to give the boys a massive pat on the back.”
Referee: Tim Allatt
Attendance: 411
Yellow Card: Birtwell (Sedgley Park), Challinor (Titans)
Titans: Newborn (T). Minogue (2P, 1C)
Sedgley Park: Gallagher (2T), Collins (1C)
Titans: 15 George Tucker, 14 Connor Field, 13 Lloyd Hayes, 12 Harry Dunne, 11 Tom Lewis, 10 Matt Minogue, 9 Sam Boxhall, 1 Charlie Capps (Donkor 74), 2 Harry Newborn (Bergmanas 59), 3 Rikki Stout (Quigley 63), 4 Matt Challinor, 5 Matt Smith, 6 Harry Williams (M. Williams 51), 7 Keifer Laxton, 8 Zak Poole (Capt).
Replacements: 16 Jack Bergmanas, 17 Colin Quigley, 18 Alastair Donkor, 19 Matti Williams, 20 Jonny West.
Sedgley Park: 15 Andy Riley, 14 Rhys Henderson, 13 Oliver Glasse, 12 Matt Riley (Capt.), 11 Jamie Harrison, 10 Steve Collins, 9 Danny Openshaw, 1 John Blanchard, 2 Matt Gallagher, 3 Ben Black, 4 Bob Birtwell, 5 Connor James (E. Crowe 63), 6 Mark Goodman, 7 Will Lees, 8 Tom Ailes (O. Crowe 34).
Replacements: 16 Beltus Nonleh, 17 Cash Chilvers, 18 Oscar Crowe, 19 Cam Crampton, 20 Elliot Crowe.
Photo Credit: Rotherham Advertiser