Rotherham Titans maintained their ambitions of a top-end finish with an impressive 40-12 win over a determined and hugely physical Hull Ionians side.
Titans managed to keep their opponents try-less, whilst running in four scores themselves through a double from Kieran Curran and one each for Callum Bustin and Sam Boxhall.
Fly half Matt Minogue put in another perfect afternoon from the tee as he knocked over all 8 of his efforts.
However, the victory lost some of its gloss for the home side as Callum Bustin and Matt Smith both left the field on stretchers and at the time of writing all at Clifton Lane wish them a speedy recovery.
The game itself was played in windy and wet conditions, but despite this the handling from both sides was pretty impressive.
Following an early penalty from fly half Matt Minogue Titans scored their first try following a barnstorming break from centre Lloyd Hayes, which took play up to the five metre line, after which scrum half Sam Boxhall fed back rower Kieran Curran who powered his way over. Minogue added the extras.
Ionians got themselves on the board through two penalties from centre Lewis Minikin whose efforts sandwiched one from Matt Minogue.
Titans extended their lead on 30 minutes when number 8 Callum Bustin broke off the tail of a dominant maul for Roth’s second try. Minogue impressed from out wide with his conversion.
Rotherham continued to have the better of things in general, but credit to Ionians as some resilient defending kept out the home side. Indeed Lewis Minikin added two more penalties just before the break to send the teams in at half time with Roth holding a 20-12 advantage.
The second period saw Rotherham dominate even more as the visitors began to tire. Two early penalties from Minogue sent his side 26-12 up, before the third try arrived on 56 minutes.
From a line out close to Ionians line Roth set up a powerful driving maul which culminated in Kieran Curran dotting down for his second score of the match. Minogue dutifully added the extras.
The final score of the game came 15 minutes from time and secured the bonus point for the South Yorkshire side.
This time the score came from a flowing move which combined backs and forwards in the build-up, with flanker Matti Williams making good ground before offloading to Sam Boxhall to theatrically dive over the whitewash for the try of the match. Minogue completed a perfect afternoon’s work for himself with the extras.
Titans now have to regroup after the loss of Charlie Capps, Callum Bustin and Matt Smith in the last 2 weeks due to potentially serious injuries.
Speaking immediately after the game Titans Adam Byron said:
“Some of the gloss has obviously been taken off the result because we had two boys leave the field on a stretcher. The injuries didn’t look great, but it’s too early to know just how serious they are.
“We have to say a huge thanks to our medical department for looking after them; we are lucky at Rotherham to have such quality and experience in David Swift and Chris Myers.
“Whenever there is a serious injury which stops the game for a long period it takes it out of the boys and you can lose your focus, but the boys came together and did what they had to do and full credit to them for that.
“Hull Ionians are a good side and we knew they were going to give us a tough test and so we are really pleased to get the result and it’s another game in which we have scored 40 points against one of the top sides.
“Our real focus since the Fylde game has been our game management and that ability to be clinical in finishing off our opportunities and I thought we were good again in those areas and since I’ve been here it’s the first time we’ve been able to do that for two games in a row.
“It was also pleasing to see the boy’s not just win, but win convincingly – just as they did last week down at Stourbridge and that is very pleasing to see.”
Referee: Nikki O'Donnell
Attendance: 377
Yellow Card: None
Titans: Curran (2T), Bustin (T), Boxhall (T), Minogue (4P, 4C)
Hull Ionians: Minikin (4C)
Titans:
15 George Tucker
14 Connor Field
13 Lloyd Hayes
12 Harry Dunne
11 Jamie Cooke
10 Matt Minogue
9 Sam Boxhall (Fisher 78)
28 Alastair Donkor (Richardson 57)
2 Harry Newborn
27 Rikki Stout (Quigley 64)
4 Matt Challinor (Capt.)
5 Matt Smith (Bergmanas 59)
6 Kieran Curran
7 Matti Williams
8 Callum Bustin (Wilson 50)
Replacements:
16 Jack Bergmanas
17 Colin Quigley
18 Lewis Wilson
19 Tom Richardson
21 Oli Fisher
Hull Ionians:
15 Jack Townend
14 Sam Wilson (Metcalfe 41)
13 Lewis Minikin
12 Josh Britton (McDaniel 72)
11 Nathan Hill
10 Ben Smith
9 William Metcalfe (Kirk 40)
1 David Laverick (Bell 67) (Laverick 80)
2 Ben Stephenson
3 Ben Bell (Morton 41)
4 Joe Makin (Capt.)
5 Thomas Peters
6 Alex Campbell (Foffie 40)
7 Allan Hudson (Malcolmson 67)
8 George Mewburn
Replacements:
16 Christopher Morton
18 Kobby Foffie
23 James Malcolmson
19 James McDaniel
20 Charlie Kirk
Photo Credit: Gareth Siddons