By Roth Admin
January 11 2004

Rotherham Titans are still searching for their first victory of the season after losing 41-33 to Gran Rugby of Parma, in the first leg of the Parker Pen Shield. It was the Titans 18th successive defeat in all competitions this season. Rotherham started brightly and were rewarded after just two minutes. From 45 metres out, Rauluni fed Benson from the base of the scrum and the fly-half broke through the home defence and traded passes with Ewens before going over in the corner. Benson failed to convert his own try.

The Titans lead lasted only five minutes. From open play 35 metres out, a neat interchange of passes from Diego Sacca and Marco De Rossi enabled the former to find a gap in the Rotherham defence and go over near the posts. Full Back Ross Cook converted to make it 7-5.

On 23 the hosts increased their lead after a period of sustained pressure resulting in fly half Sebastian Caffaratti sniping over from close range. Cook slotted the easy conversion. Back came Rotherham and after a series of phases in Gran Rugby’s 22, the classy Geraint Lewis received a pass in the corner for Titans 2nd try. Benson hit the left upright with his conversion.

Ross Cook and Jon Benson traded penalties and sandwiched in between was a yellow card for Rotherham’s John Rawson and his counterpart in the scrum Luciano Artal. French referee Maceillo lost his patience with the pair for persistently collapsing the set piece. The Italians went in at the break 17 – 13 ahead.

Two more penalties for Benson and one for Cook cut the hosts advantage to a single point on 51 minutes. Then, as has happened on several occasions this season Rotherham fell asleep. In a crazy 17 minute spell between the 60th and 77th minute, Gran Rugby scored three converted tries. The 2nd and 3rd tries were scored in this period, while Rotherham’s lock, Glen Kenworthy was in the sin bin. This was a harsh decision as his crime was not releasing the ball after he had been tackled.

Lock forward Vaki Vailiani, blind side flanker Antonio Mannato and Scottish full back Ross Cook all scored what Rotherham would consider, very sloppy tries. Their defence on all three occasions was breached with the minimum effort.

As the game entered stoppage time with Rotherham looking ragged and trailing 41 – 19, Rotherham’s flying winger Michael Wood scored two tries in the corner – both superbly converted by Benson from the touch line – to give Rotherham a chance to turn things around next Sunday at Millmoor.

After the match Rotherham’s Director of Rugby Steph Nel commented that he was “very disappointed” and that, “today, is the lowest point of my career.” On a more positive note Titans centre Peter Jorgensen said, “Although we are all disappointed, we are very confident we can turn things around at home.”

Gran Parma: Ross Cook, Alessio Galante (Stefano Varrella 74), Diego Sacca, Marco De Rossi, Rocco Assandri, Sebastian Caffaratti, Lisandro Viliagra, Luciano Artal , Danielle Gatti (Carlo Festuccia 48), Carlos Nieto, Vaki Vailiani (Stefano Varrella 78), Piet Myburgh, Antonio Mannato, Edoardo Vaggi (Gian Marco Pulli 69), Pietro Minardi (Edoardo Candiago 53).

Rotherham Titans: Bernardo Stortoni, Joe Ewens, Jon Pritchard, Mike Umaga (Peter Jorgensen 50), Michael Wood, Jon Benson, Jacob Rauluni (Capt.) (Matthew Rhodes 62), Nick Lloyd, Chris Johnson, John Rawson, Glen Kenworthy, Jonathon Pendlebury (Luke Gross 62), Leon Greeff, Craig Short, Geraint Lewis

Referee: Maceillo (France)

Attendance: 250 (Estimate)