DIRECTOR of Rugby Seb Reynolds admitted Rams’ failure to convert vital moments meant Rotherham Titans were deserved winners as they snapped a 10-match National One winning start to the campaign with a 21-14 success at Clifton Lane.
A sublime Solodrau Radianirova opener converted by Fraser Honey put the visitors ahead in filthy conditions, but despite losing Curran Maguire to the sin-bin following repeated infringements inside their own 22, Titans got on the board via a Lloyd Hayes penalty after their opponents had burned a two-on-one overlap with a chance to make it 14-0.
Another Hayes kick cut the gap to one at the break, and the outside centre then converted after Rob Povey sliced through early in the second half.
Rams rallied, though, and regained the lead as James McRae rode a maul over, Honey with the extras.
Hayes landed a third penalty for 16-14, however, and a mistake in the backfield then allowed Rotherham a scrum from which Austin Shortall was sent over on the left.
The visitors continued to fight, but found their rivals in resolute form and a fabulous defensive effort from Titans secured the win.
A pensive Reynolds confessed post-match: “It was a good game of rugby, wet and windy and credit to everyone at Rotherham for getting it on.
“Wet-weather games swing on pivotal moments and we had a couple of chances in the first half, then didn’t win the key stages in the second – when you fail to take your opportunities you don’t deserve to win any game.
“When we look back on review there might be points we see as critical moments, but in these conditions you’re going to get errors.
“We got back into the lead and then we had multiple negative outcomes which led us to being on our line and they take their chance.”
He continued: “In the second half, tactically we were maybe a bit off where we needed to be, but we take it on the chin.
“You get days like this where it doesn’t go your way, and you just have to put your chest out and get on with it – the only thing we should be doing is saying congratulations to Rotherham for executing a good game plan and getting the win.
“We credit them because they stuck in the game against the wind in the first half – we probably didn’t get a big enough lead which meant we put ourselves under pressure – and they thoroughly deserved victory.
“Their defence was outstanding – we were parked on their line on multiple occasions and while in wet conditions it’s perhaps easier to stop one-on-one runners, they had to do it, and they did it well.”
Following a week off, Rams host new table-toppers Richmond under the Friday Night Lights on December 6 (7.45pm) – both sides on 49 points after 11 games but the Londoners ahead having not lost a game this term.
