Jack Hedley try hat-trick helps Rotherham Titans to winning start to 2023

They ran in seven tries, including three for wing Jack Hedley, as they saw off bottom-of-the-table Blaydon 47-19 on their artificial pitch at Crow Trees.

Needing to put a poor run of results before Christmas behind them, Titans trailed early on to two tries from John Clarkson before hitting their stride in a contest awash with running rugby.

A brace of touchdown from Hedley  started the turn-around before centre Jack Taylor went over to help open up a 19-12 half-time lead.

Hedley, returning from injury, completed his hat-trick soon after half time and although Blaydon responded with a converted score from Zach Thompson, Rotherham finished the stronger with two tries from Sam Boxhall and one from Callum Bustin.

Lloyd Hayes landed six conversions for a Rotherham line-up which also featured the returning Conor Dever at no. 10.

Jenkinson said: "There are no easy trips. It's a long trip up there, evidenced by the fact we were 12-0 down in a matter of minutes.

"We have not had the best of times of it and we have certainly not measured up to our expectations but we are working hard at it and some very positive things came out of the game. We scored some lovely tries."

The victory moved Rotherham fifth in the table ahead of another journey up to the North East on Saturday to play Tynedale.