Nagle-Taylor’s timely treble bails out poor Titans

AN OUTSTANDING second half hat-trick by Rotherham No.8 Seb NagleTaylor, rescued the Titans and set up a win which had been in doubt against an enterprising Esher side.

Nagle-Taylor, who started on the bench and then joined the battle immediately after half-time, transformed a Titans side that struggled as Esher deservedly led 12-5 after 45 minutes.

The Rotherham skipper barged over, twice from a scrum, on 54, 57 and 72 minutes taking his personal tally in National One to 16 tries as his team recovered strongly from their home defeat by Loughborough Students two weeks ago.

“This was an exceptional performance from the pack,” said Nagle-Taylor who notched a second hattrick of the campaign.

“We had ascendancy in the scrum and had dominance in the maul. This result was exactly what we asked of the team following the Loughborough result.

“I’m pleasantly surprised at the number of tries I’ve scored and since I came here from Jersey at the start of the season, the people at Rotherham – from the backroom staff to the supporters – have been amazing.”

Rotherham earned a maximum five points but in the first half Esher controlled possession and territory, counter-attacked impressively and arguably should have scored more than the one try by centre Dan Rowland.

Esher’s authority

increased early in the second period as prop Matt Lowes was driven over from a lineout to lead 12-5.

The nature of the contest changed as Rotherham’s forwards, strengthened from the bench, began to play with menace, not least Nagle-Taylor, who took advantage of Esher errors.

The conversion by Callum Irvine of the No.8’s first try made it 12-12, his second from an attacking lineout stretched the lead to 17-12 and finally, late in the second half, his third, from a scrum, put Rotherham comfortably ahead 22-12.

Esher had two late chances to recover, but lost possession at a lineout on Rotherham’s line and then replacement goal-kicker Andrew Fluker missed a penalty.