By Roth Admin
December 30 2003

Rotherham Titans lost their 13th consecutive Zurich Premiership game away at Sale Sharks by 35 points to 7. A record Premiership attendance at Edgeley Park of 8,797 saw Sale run in four try’s to one and witness England hero, Jason Robinson make his first home league start of the campaign. The bumper crowd didn’t have to wait long for the first score. Just one minute had elapsed when Rotherham conceded a penalty 22 metres out and in front of the posts. The easy penalty was converted by Charlie Hodgson.

Rotherham’s reply was almost immediate. Less than 90 seconds later and a Titans brake down the right flank enabled Jacob Rauluni to feed the ball infield to Phil Jones who’s incisive dart broke the Sale defence and he just managed to get the ball over the line under severe pressure from Sharks full back Vaughan Going. Jones dusted himself down to convert his own try.

On six minutes Rotherham conceded another penalty for being caught offside and up stepped Hodgson to narrow the gap to a single point. Phil Jones should have increased Rotherham’s lead just three minutes later when this time Sale were caught offside. But somehow he managed to pull the ball across the face of the posts.

On 19 and 22 minutes respectively, both Hodgson first and Jones later, both missed easy penalty opportunities. Twenty six minutes had elapsed when arguably the game was about to take a twist. It started with a trademark Jason Robinson run. He picked the ball up 15 metres inside his own half in the middle of the park. He jinked one way then another and in the blink of an eye, he had made 35 metres going past a host of Rotherham defenders. Finally new boy Des Tuiavi’i brought him to ground with a strong tackle.

In the ensuing scramble, Colin Noon conceded a penalty for killing the ball and referee Steve Leyshon saw fit to send him to the bin for 10 minutes. Rotherham were leading 7-6 when Noon left the field, when he returned, Sale had scored two converted try’s to take a 20 points to 7 lead. From that point on Rotherham were playing catch up rugby again. The Sale try’s came from Robinson and Hanley and both were converted by Hodgson.

The first period came to an end with a sparkling run from Titan left wing Michael Wood, who collected the ball inside his own 22 and then darted through a number of Sale defenders before being brought to ground just inside the Sale ten metre line.

Half Time: Sale Sharks 20 – Rotherham Titans 7

Rotherham came out for the second period needing to score the first points, however there was only four minutes on the clock when Sharks second row forward Chris Jones crashed over for Sale’s third try of the afternoon. Hodgson missed the conversion.

Sale started to mount sustained pressure on the Titans. Rotherham didn’t help themselves by continually kicking the ball straight back to the opposition and inviting them on. The main culprit of this was fly half, Phil Jones. Bryan Redpath the Sale replacement scrum half was having a good game and was instrumental in much of the positive play coming from the home side.

On 58 minutes Charlie Hodgson increased the home side’s advantage by converting a regulation penalty after Rotherham had been caught offside yet again. This took Sale’s advantage to 28 – 7.

On 64 minutes a rare sight was to be witnessed. Sale’s flying machine Jason Robinson broke through the Titans defence and found himself with a one on one with Rotherham’s full back, Bernardo Stortoni. Robinson kicked on into the goal area, by the time Stortoni turned around and got up to pace he was a yard behind the England hero – certain try then? Amazingly, Stortoni caught Robinson and shepherded the ball into touch. That boy is quick!

On 65 minutes Steph Nel had to pull Phil Jones out of the game and bring on Jonathan Benson. With the boot it had not been a good day for Jones. Nel rates Jones and is trying to nurture him through; he wants him to take control of the game more. Hopefully as the season progresses he will be able to put his stamp on a game.

As the game went into injury time it looked as if Rotherham could have taken some consolation in preventing the home side the bonus point. But not even that shred of comfort was to be had. Two minutes into stoppage time with Rotherham tiring and Sale going all out for the bonus, Chris Jones charged over near the corner for Sale’s forth try of the game. Once again the reliable Charlie Hodgson converted the difficult penalty.

Full Time: Sale Sharks 35 – Rotherham Titans 7


The positives that can be taken from the game were the impressive debuts of Des Tuiavi’i, who was everywhere and tackled ferociously at every opportunity and Lock, Corniel van Zyl who commanded Rotherham’s line out and competed effectively in the open. And as usual, Rotherham continued to battle gallantly to the end, never once did they throw the towel in.

When Sale play as well as this, it’s going to take a very capable team to beat them at Edgeley Park. It’s difficult to say whether this was a backward step for Rotherham or they just came up against a very very good team.

Sale Sharks: V Going; M Cueto, C Mayor, J Robinson, S Hanley (J Hoyle, 71); C Hodgson, N Walshe (B Redpath, 31); A Sheridan, A Titterrell (M Cairns, 44), S Turner (B Stewart, 44), C Jones, D Schofield, J White, S Pinkerton (M Lund, 60), A Sanderson.

Rotherham Titans: B Stortoni; G Pieters, P Jorgensen, J Pritchard, M Wood (J Keyter, H-T); P Jones (J Benson, 66), J Rauluni (G Easterby, 50); N Lloyd, A Long, C Noon (R Olckers, 61), L Gross, C van Zyl (R Volschenk, 61), D Tuiavi'i (G Lewis, 75), R van der Merwe, B MacLeod-Henderson.

Referee:S.Leyshon


Attendance: 8,797