Match Report: Falcons v Titans

By Roth Admin
November 13 2003

Rotherham Titans suffered their 9th consecutive defeat of the season, going down 56:10 to Newcastle Falcons. In front of 5,452 paying spectators, the Newcastle Falcons handed the Titans a free and painful lesson in running rugby and organised defending.

Quite where the Titans go from here is difficult to say, but they have to re-group very quickly indeed as they play the Falcons again next week. This time however, it is in the 6th round of the Powergen Cup at Millmoor on Sunday.

Today’s game could not have started any worse for Rotherham. From the kick off, Titans 2nd row giant Luke Gross knocked on. From the resulting scrum on the Rotherham 22, Newcastle broke infield through the pace of Stephenson and although Rotherham’s defence stopped him, the Falcons hooker Makin was on hand to go over for the 1st try of the match with only a minute gone. Walder converted in front of the posts.

Walder increased the falcons lead on 9 minutes with a penalty after the Titans were caught offside. John Benson reduced the deficit just 2 minutes later with a nicely taken penalty of his own. Only for Walder to redress the balance with another penalty 5 minutes later.

Newcastle was beginning to get on top and was playing some fluent rugby through the backs. On 37 minutes Rotherham’s Jon Pritchard was sent to the sin-bin for infringing at a maul. Just a minute later from a Newcastle line out about 10 metres from the Rotherham goal, Mark Mayerholfer sent in Jamie Noon for the Falcons 2nd try. Walder converted.

Two minutes in to 1st half stoppage time, Rotherham hooker for the day Peter Smyth kicked a high ball on to the Newcastle 10 metre line. The Newcastle defence hesitated a fraction and before they had chance to recover, Anthony Elliott came on at pace and without breaking stride collected the loose ball and ran 40 metres to score a well taken try. John Benson converted.

Five minutes in to stoppage time Dave Walder scored a penalty to make the half time score, Falcons 23 Titans 10.

The second period was only 3 minutes old when effectively the match was over as a contest. Once again a blistering run from Stephenson found May on the overlap to go over. Walder converted. Rotherham were now under massive pressure and it was inevitable that the Falcons would score again. Just 9 minutes later May went over for his 2nd try of the afternoon and Walder converted.

The next 15 minutes was largely dominated by Rotherham, both with territory and possession. Newcastle’s Matt Thompson was sin-binned for constantly killing the ball, but time and again the Falcon defence held firm. It was during this period of Rotherham pressure that a wayward pass was intercepted and Newcastle ran 70 metres to give Tom May his 3rd try of the match near the corner. Walder missed the conversion.

Just 2 minutes later and a rampant Newcastle scored their 6th try. A brilliant scissors move between Taione and Noon enabled the latter to go under the Rotherham Posts. Walder converted. And to round off a dismal day for the Titans, the Newcastle replacement Thompson made it 7 tries for Newcastle five minutes from time. Once again Walder converted.

The question is not can Rotherham win a league game this season, but can they secure a bonus point? Judging from the Rotherham fans conversation after the match in the bar, the answer is a resounding, NO.

As for the Rotherham players, they are an honest and hard working bunch of individuals and if effort alone secured points, they would be top of the league. The new South African consultant Steph Nel comes with a reputation of a “miracle worker,” if he’s to turn Rotherham around then he’s going to make Lazarus’ resurrection look like amateur hour.