National Division 1

18th February 2006

Earth Arena

Kick Off 2.00pm

Titans 9

Bedford 31

V

Earth Titans: 15 Errie Claassens, 14 Gillan Carruthers, 13 Tom Allen (Lee Blackett 71), 12 Ledowyk Strauss, 11 John Holtby, 10 Mike Whitehead, 9 Morne Jonker (Joe Bedford 57), 1 Jamie Kilbane (Sam Walsh 49), 2 Neil Hanna (Nigel Conroy 79), 3 Adam Hopcroft, 4 Jannie Bornman, 5 Gareth McComb (Louis McGowan 68), 6 Hendre Fourie 7 Neil Cochrane (Capt), 8 Scott Donald

Replacements Not Used

WP Strauss, Jarleth Carey.

Bedford: 15 Lewis, 14 Moir, 13 Roberts, 12 Allen, 11 Hinkins, 10 Hepher, 9 Dickson, 1 Tonga'Uiha, 2 Johnson, 3 Brooks, 4 Comb, 5 Phillips, 6 Paramore, 7 Rainbow, 8 Brady

Replacements

16 Whitehead, 17 Graham, 18 Brenton, 19 Harding, 20 Malone, 21 Luke, 22 Staten.

Rotherham maybe entering a transitional period, as Andre Bester’s policy of not starting, where possible, any player who won’t be at Clifton Lane next season continues.

Post match Bester added, “No-one is going to change my philosophy; anyone who doesn't agree can walk right now. It's my way or no way – that's how I have had success in the past.”

“You can't build something on sand; you have to build proper foundations and sometimes you have to go through hardships and take beatings. Look at England: the team that won the World Cup was slaughtered in the Southern Hemisphere five years previously.”

"There was nothing wrong with that team out there today. These guys have to be exposed to the tempo of this division. I take responsibility – I'm willing to lose matches if we can learn a lot. We won't lose games like that next season."

In a torrid first half Rotherham conceded three tries, Brooks, Paramore and Moir doing the damage. Ali Hepher brilliantly converted all three to add to his injury time penalty.

A combination of poor defending and sloppy tackling from Rotherham contributed greatly to their downfall. The backs in particular will be disappointed with some of their first-up tackles and lack of cutting edge going forward.

Two penalties and a drop goal from Mike Whitehead was all the home side would manage throughout the match and to be honest Whitehead was one of the few bright sparks for the hosts.

A minute into the second half Moir’s 2^nd try closed out the game and secured the bonus point for the visitors. Remarkably there would be no further points scored and although Rotherham had lots of possession and territory, they were unable to breach the visitor’s resolute defence.

Referee Chris Sharp had a nightmare performance and should have awarded Rotherham at least one penalty try late on. Persistent and blatant Bedford infringements at the rucks and mauls near their own line, should not have gone unpunished.

A furious Bester seethed afterwards saying, "I will be talking to the head of refereeing next week, because all of our advantages were taken away from us by the referee's decisions and the way that he saw the scrum."

"That was the worst display I have seen in this division. In terms of performance, there were only two or three points in it; there was nothing in it in the pack."

Rotherham have a week off now before traveling to Newbury in a fortnight, hopefully this time will allow Roth to re-group and realise without certain “big names” in the squad, they have a job to do.

Other Nat 1 fixtures this weekend

National Division 1

Newbury v Roth 4 March at Monks Lane
.

kick off 3.00pm

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