Clinical Titans shoot down Eagles

ROTHERHAM coach Nic Rouse hailed his side’s finishing power after securing an impressive bonus point against Connacht Eagles.

Tries from Jonny Murphy, Jamie Cooke and Drew Cheshire put the Titans into a 20-3 half-time lead in a match from which neither team could progress. Jake Henry grabbed the fourth try late on for the Titans’ third B&I Cup win this season.

“It wasn’t pretty at times but we were clinical in the first half. It stayed that way until the last moments and then we got the bonus point,” said Rouse. “I’m happy with the five points. If you gave me that any day of the week I’d take it.”

Rotherham were brilliant in the opening stages and after some incessant pressure, hooker Murphy touched down from a rolling maul.

Fly-half Lee Millar missed the conversion but the visitors were clinical again in the 24th minute when Cooke scored after Luke Carty’s clearance kick was blocked. The Eagles were in trouble and full-back Caolan Ryan converted for a 12-0 lead.

Carty put Connacht on the scoreboard with a penalty, but Cheshire touched down Titans’ third try nine minutes before half-time and Ryan’s first penalty gave them a 20-3 interval advantage.

Connacht flanker Sean Masterson went to the sinbin in the 39th minute for persistent infringements, and the Eagles held Rotherham scoreless until Henry broke through in the dying moments.