A-team: Earth Titans 14-28 Leeds Tykes

A-TEAM IN ACTION
By Stefan
February 3 2006

TRIES by new boys Gillan Carruthers and Dwain Brown were not enough to hold out Leeds Tykes. The Titans went down 28-14 under the floodlights at Herringthorpe Stadium.

Careless defence, turning over possession, losing line-out ball and the failure of the backs to threaten, were major weaknesses.

Still there were one or two encouraging signs. South African winger Dwain Brown, fullback Gareth Brear, flyhalf Mike Whitehead and lock James Waterhouse, all caught the eye but the Titans' failure to put together attacks that threatened the Tykes’ control was costly.

The premiership outfit's superior fitness and class made the difference in the end as they brushed aside their hosts scoring four tries to two.

Leeds went ahead with an early converted try in the second minute as careless defence allowed the visiting centres too much space. They followed it up with a second on 12 minutes before Rotherham responded on the quarter hour mark.

After several phases of attacking play in the Tykes' 22, flyhalf Mike Whitehead released an accurate miss-pass to the on-rushing Carruthers. The Ulsterman's arcing run and step carried him over the whitewash to record Roth's first score. His try was converted by Whitehead.

Penalties on 21 and 30 minutes gave the visitors a 18-7 lead at half time.

In the second half, two more tries - on 55 and 59 minutes - stretched the lead to 28-7 until the final action of the game saw trialist winger Dwain Brown crash over the try line after a powerful run. His try was converted by Mike Whitehead to make the final score 28-14.

Earth Titans:
Gareth Brear (Tom Bullough 60); Peter Lewis (Gareth Brear 60), Gillan Carruthers, Will Kirtley, Dwain Brown; Mike Whitehead, Phil Dale; Jamie Kilbane (Tom Dixon 47), Jonny Larby (Jamie Kilbane 47), Sam Walsh, Carl Clifford, James Waterhouse, Nick Barrett (Mike Baillie 40), Greg Burnham (Darrion Uys 60), Tristan Laga (Greg Burnham 69).

Titans Scorers:
Gillan Carruthers (T), Dwain Brown (T), Mike Whitehead (2C).