Rotherham Titans tough out victory over gritty Huddersfield

ROTHERHAM Titans recovered from back-to-back defeats to get their season back on track against Huddersfield at Clifton Lane.

Titans came through an often scrappy National Two North contest to win 27-3 against doughty opponents who made them work hard for their scores.

Tries from Danny Rylance, Harry Dunne and Jack Hedley forged a 15-0 half-time lead, although Lloyd Hayes wasn’t at his reliable best, missing four conversion attempts and a penalty on his return from injury.

The points cushion proved more than enough, even though the lowly visitors had decent spells of pressure in the second half and nibbled at the deficit with a penalty from Will Milner.

Luckas Sableman-Blue’s first touchdown for the club secured Rotherham a four-try bonus point on 69 minutes and Hayes slotted the conversion before skipper Zak Poole went over off the last play.

Head coach Adam Byron said: “In terms of performance, the scoreline was a bit flattering. We didn’t really get out of second gear and you could tell in the ‘circle’ afterwards that the boys wanted a bit more from it. That shows the standards they set themselves. They want to be a team that can play with the ball and that’s something we are working towards.

“As pleased as we are with the result, I know and the boys know there is probably another two or three gears to come yet.”

The victory keeps Rotherham fifth in the table ahead of two matches against Sheffield teams, the first against Byron’s old club, Sheffield RUFC, at Abbeydale next Saturday (2.15pm).

Sheffield Tigers come to the Lane in a fortnight’s time.