Titans 55-10 Welsh

LONDON WELSH CREST
By Stefan
April 15 2006

EARTH TITANS' second eight-try destruction of opposition in eight days went some way to laying down a marker for next season. The Titans repeatedly ripped apart the Bees defence as they registered another five pointer.

True, the Titans played in fits and starts, much as they did last week, but they put in a much better performance and were too strong for the enthusiastic Exiles who were soundly beaten by eight tries to two.

In some respects the performances of both weeks were similar. Bester's charges produced six-try hauls in the second-half of both games, one with the wind and the other against the wind.

It begs the question, what could they do if they managed to string two halves together!

Coach André Bester, who sets the highest of standards for himself and his team, should be much encouraged by this display. His experimental line-up with its positional changes at hooker and wing produced the desired result and his young team is rapidly climbing a learning curve.

The home side playing into a strong breeze, unwilling to kick or make long risky passes, made things difficult for themselves in the first half. Producing over twenty basic first-half errors as London Welsh's enthusiastic defence pressed up on them, they conceded possession on countless occasions and were seldom able to break into visitor's territory.

However, when the Titans managed to break out of defence in the first-half, they did so with considerable menace and the second-half try-spree always looked on the cards.

Their lighting strikes produced two first-half tries for the 'test-tube' winger Scott Donald on 8 and 10 minutes, both converted by flyhalf Mike Whitehead. Donald could have well added his third on 33 minutes but he inexplicably dropped the ball as he crossed the whitewash clear and unopposed.

Both tries were impressive!

Mike Whitehead - who had an excellent game throughout - produced a pass to put Lodewyk Strauss into a gap. Strauss straightened, found himself clear and his long pass found Donald racing up the left flank and clear for the Titan's first try. Two minutes later they were back, breaking out of defence the ball passed through several pairs of hands before it reached Donald for his second.

Donald's second try made the score 14-5 but questions about Rotherham's defence had been raised once again as hooker Chris Richie steamed through for the visitor's opening try - taking a 5-0 lead on 2 minutes after series of blunders straight from the kick-off - and when winger James Greenwood scored on the half-hour mark after some sloppy tackling, London Welsh were fully back in contention at 14-10.

After the interval the Titans ran in six tries in a ruthless display, which crushed London Welsh. They quickly built on the 14-10 interval lead, going over on 50, 59, 66, 68, 70 and 80 minutes.

Forward-cum-winger Donald added his third to notch up his first hat trick for the club and there were other tries from prop John Golding, Tongan forward Chris Hala'Ufia, hooker Neil Cochrane, flying fullback Errie Claassens and homeward bound centre WP Strauss.

Titans' eighth try by Scott Donald completed a remarkable performance by the Kiwi who will be re-signing for the club next season.

His first season with the Titans has been truly outstanding.

Donald's season try haul of 17 ranks him amongst the club's all-time leading try scorers. The backrow's exceptionally high work-rate coupled with his ability to get himself into try-scoring positions - that no forward has a right to get into - make him an outstanding player.

He caused mayhem down the visitors' flank whenever given opportunity. So quick and strong, Donald's hat trick on the day was quite brilliant.

And with fly half Michael Whitehead kicking his sixth conversion to add to his second-half penalty, the Titans' massacre was complete.

The Titans have now risen to fourth place in the league and considering Plymouth Albion's upcoming trips to Harlequins and Cornish Pirates, its a position they look likely to retain.

Tom Outram made his league debut when he replaced Mike Whitehead on 74 minutes, the 19-year old shows promise and has impressed this season at Academy level - perhaps he's one to watch for the future!

Referee:
Greg Garner (RFU)

Man of the Match:
Scott Donald

Earth Titans:
15 Errie Claassens; 14 John Holtby, 13 Tom Allen (Gillan Carruthers 72), 12 Lodewyk Strauss (WP Strauss 20), 11 Scott Donald; 10 Mike Whitehead (Tom Outram 74), 9 Morné Jonker (Joe Bedford 40); 1 Jon Golding (Jarleth Carey 68), 2 Neil Cochrane (Nigel Conroy 68), 3 Adam Hopcroft, 4 Jannie Bornman (Tim Maslanyk 72), 5 Louis McGowan, 6 Hendré Fourie, 7 Gareth McComb, 8 Chris Hala'Ufia.

Titans Scorers:
Scott Donald (3T), John Golding (1T), Chris Hala'Ufia (1T), Neil Cochrane (1T), Errie Claassens (1T), WP.Strauss (1T), Mike Whitehead (1P 6C).

London Welsh:
15 Gareth Swales; 14 John Swords (Lee Cholewa 59), 13 James Storey (Aaron Hopkins 59), 12 Matt Cannon, 11 James Greenwood; Mark Meenan, 9 Allen Chilton (Robbie Shaw 68); 1 Steve Millard (Steve Croall 64), 2 Chris Ritchie (Amo Tauialo 64), 3 John Masters, 4 Howard Quigley (Chris Waring 64), 5 Jim Brownrigg, 6 Matt Fitzgerald, 7 Simon Etheredge, 8 Paul Cox (Richard Griffith 64).

London Welsh Scorers:
Chris Ritchie (1T), James Greenwood (1T)

Yellow Card:
Matt Fitzgerald (77 min.).