By Roth Admin
April 10 2005

A second half spirited comeback by Rotherham proved fruitless as they went down 34-25 to Penzance and Newlyn. Trailing 24-13 early in the 2nd half, Roth managed to haul themselves back and had Jon Benson’s last minute kick gone over – surely Roth would have come away with the spoils. However it was not to be and deep into injury time the Cornishmen scored their 4th try of the game to seal the win and collect the bonus point. Afterwards Andy Northey said, “Sometimes you prefer to get beat by 40 points! It’s terrible to get so close and not quite have enough.

“The lads showed today there’s a real togetherness about them. To play into that wind second half and score points and to come back at Penzance the way they did – that was really pleasing. It’s just tough to take when at times your execution lets you down, it probably cost us the game in the end.

“Our line out was pretty bad, we didn’t win enough first phase ball there. We addressed that after the Bristol game and we’ll have to address it again because it’s obviously not working.

“Some of our play though was tremendous, especially David Strettle! He’s shown today that he’s a tremendous finisher, he’s a strong lad and he was vital for us – to get over the line when there was nothing on at times was magnificent.”

In a competitive game played in a strong wind blowing towards the clubhouse it was Roth who got the scoreboard ticking first. On 13 minutes Jon Benson converted a 40 metre penalty after the visitors were penalised for holding on.

However on 20 minutes Penzance scored the first try of the game. From a line out, the ball was quickly spread infield to Jarvis who found Kevin James who waltzed through the Roth defence with alarming ease to touch down under the posts. Jarvis converted,

Roth’s response was almost immediate, Tamarua pinched ball and fed Strettle on the right wing. It looked as though the youngster was heading down a blind alley – but Strettle’s blistering pace somehow enabled him to squeeze by Thirlby to score in the corner for Benson to convert.

Jarvis and Benson traded penalties on 34 and 40 minutes and it looked as though Roth would go in at the break leading 13-10. However drama deep into first half injury time saw open side flank Iva Motusaga score the visitors 2nd try of the game for Jarvis to convert.

Half time: Roth 13 Penzance 17

It was always to be a struggle for Roth in the second half playing into the ever increasing strong wind and just 7 minutes in Penzance got their 3rd try of the afternoon. Again from a line out Penzance set up a driving maul that this time went 25 metres for hooker Ma’asi to score and Jarvis to convert.

Again Roth battled back and from a quick tap from Haami the ball was spun left to Emms, he found Strettle who once again demonstrated his speed by going over in the left corner for an unconverted try.

Jarvis nudged the visitors further ahead on 62 minutes with a well taken penalty only for Roth to bounce back once again. This time it was the Edinburgh bound Pete Jorgensen who made the break making 25 metres. His pass to Strettle on the right wing was flipped into the air and the youngster reacted quickly to gather and then speed of to score under the posts for his hat trick try. Benson converted to cut the arrears to just tow points.

As the clock ticked down with Roth in the ascendancy, Penzance Pulled down a Roth maul in the last minute of the game. Motusaga was shown the yellow card for his crime and up stepped Jon Benson to take what surely would have been the wining kick. Fifteen metres to the left on the 22 Benson’s attempt into the strong wind just missed the left upright.

You could sense the deflation within the Titans ranks and to rub salt into their wounds five minutes into injury time Tim Cowley scored the visitors 4th try of the game for Jarvis to convert. It secured the bonus point for Penzance and sent Rotherham home undeservedly with nothing after their gritty display.

Final Score: Roth 25 Penzance 34


Roth Admin Man of the Match: It has to be David Strettle for his second hat trick for the club and to celebrate his announcement that he is to stay with Roth for a further season.

This site also understands that Lee Blackett has also agreed to stay on for next season. This is more good news for Roth as Lee must be the must improved player of the season.

Furthermore it’s understood that Andre Bester has also agreed fifteen new signings already for the start of next season. Ten of these are in the forwards and five in the backs, with ongoing negotiations currently with six further players in the backs.


Referee: F. Damasco (Italy)

Roth Scorers: Benson 2P 2C, Strettle 3T


Rotherham Titans

15 Jon Benson, 14 David Strettle, 13 Peter Jorgensen, 12 Lee Blackett, 11 Michael Wood, 10 Tom Eaton (Elliott 72), 9 Brendan Haami, 1 Jon Golding (Rainima 40) (Boulton 84), 2 Richard Emms, 3 Rod Latham, 4 Opeta Palepoi (Pike 70), 5 Glen Kenworthy, 6 Des Tuiavii, 7 Tu Tamarua (Briggs 74), 8 Jannie Bornman

Replacements
16 Seru Rainima, 17 Phil Bolton, 18 Neil Briggs, 19 Tom Rice, 20 Nathan Pike, 21 Jacob Rauluni, 22 Anthony Elliott

Penzance and Newlyn

15 Davies, 14 Jess, 13 K James, 12 Kelly, 11 Thirlby, 10 Jarvis, 9 Cattle, 1 Paver, 2 Ma’asi, 3 Adams, 4 Senekal, 5 W James, 6 Bearman, 7 Motusaga, 8 Hattingh ©.

Replacements
16 Sweeney, 17 McAtee, 18 Morcom, 19 Peacey, 20 Cowley, 21 Makin, 22 Seal