Rotherham Titans recovered from a 14-3 half time deficit to stun Wharfedale 34-19 on a roasting hot afternoon at The Avenue.
Both sides scored 3 tries each with Rotherham’s dot downs coming from Matt Challinor, Jack Townend and Harry Dunne; Lloyd Hayes added 19 points from the tea.
On a sapping-hot afternoon it was the home side that scored first after just 3 minutes, when despite their scrum going backwards apace they managed to get the ball out and break quickly, allowing centre James Coulton to go in under the sticks.
Lloyd Hayes got Roth on the board soon after with a penalty, but Wharfedale extended their lead before the half hour mark to 14-3 when second rower Elliot Stockton crashed over following a period of forward pressure close to the line.
Roth had lots of possession during the first half but a combination of errors on their part and resilient defending by Wharfedale ensured they wouldn’t add to their tally.
No doubt during the half time oranges there would have been some stern words spoken in the Roth dressing room.
The second period saw a rejuvenated South Yorkshire side and with the benefit of the slope it took only 8 minutes for Roth to get their first try through Matt Challinor, after a number of pick-and-goes close to the line. Hayes’ conversion made it 14-10.
Titans’ confidence was boosted by their success and they enjoyed long periods of possession which provided some dominance in the game.
During this spell Lloyd Hayes demonstrated his accurate kicking skills by adding a further 3 penalties before full back Jack Townend showed good pace to cut through for an important try. Hayes converted the try and five minutes from time slotted a fifth penalty to effectively seal the game.
However, in injury time there was still time for each side to add a third try.
Replacement back Omari Kaup-Samuels showed great pace to dot down for the home side, whilst in the final play Titans’ Harry Dunne popped up on the right wing to touch down in the corner after collecting from Matt Challinor.
Titans will have been delighted to secure the win at such a difficult place as Wharfedale and they will now switch their focus to the visit of Lymm to Clifton Lane this week.
Speaking after the match Titans’ head coach, Gary Pearce, said:
“We were very good in the second half, we were very powerful and we looked like we’d got loads of energy left in us at the end.
“Our fitness was good; our bench was good and they made a significant impact when they went on and upped the tempo and that’s what you want to see.
“It was tough up the slope in the first half; we were a bit disappointed with some of the points we conceded and even more so with the chances we created but didn’t take; we could have gone in at half time with the lead.
“But this is what happens when you come to places like Wharfedale, they are a dogged side and they make it hard for you and we knew that was going to be the case.
“I thought the lads played well in the second half; Laurence carried really well, John Okafor did the same when he came on and everyone in the front row was outstanding.
“JB had a good game and put us in some really good positions with his kicking and so overall we are really pleased with the outcome.”
Referee: Jack Moorhouse
Attendance: 525
Yellow Card: Gaudie (Wharfedale)
Titans: Challinor (T), Townend (T), Dunne (T), Hayes (2C, 5P)
Wharfedale: Coulton (T), Stockton (T), Kaup-Samuels (T), Davidson (2C)
Titans: 15 Jack Townend (Bustin 76), 14 Dan Rundle, 13 Lloyd Hayes, 28 Callum Bustin (Dunne 30), 11 Tomasi Tanumi, 10 Will Milner, 9 JB Bruzulier, 1 Charlie Capps (Kivalu 27) (Capps 74), 2 Jack Bergmanas (Cole 36), 3 Gareth Denman (Ward 27) (Denman 61), 27 Matt Challinor (Okafor 51), 5 Matt Smith, 6 Rupert Kay (Challinor 61), 7 Laurence Cowen-Leak (Bergmanas 74), 8 Zak Poole (Capt.).
Replacements: 16 Luke Cole, 17 Loma Kivalu, 30 Reece Ward, 25 John Okafor, 12 Harry Dunne.
Wharfedale: 15 Ryan Hodgson, 14 Rob Davidson (Mallinson 40), 17 James Coulton, 12 Oliver Cicognini, 11 Beau Verity (Omari Kaup-Samuels 23), 10 Louis Verity, 9 Sam Gaudie, 16 Sam Dickinson (Collinson 67) (Armstrong 71), 2 Robbie Collinson (Beesley 52), 3 Jake Armstrong (Altham 48), 4 Elliot Stockton, 5 George Hedgley (Capt.), 6 Jack Pinder (Green 27), 7 Ben Markey (Pinder 55), 8 Rob Baldwin (Markey 68).
Replacements: 23 George Altham, 17 Matt Beesley, 18 Rhys Green, 19 Omari Kaup-Samuels, 20 Toby Mallinson.
