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Maggs return gives Titans extra boost
Rotherham Titans 29 Cornish Pirates 20
Today's arrival at Clifton Lane of Kevin Maggs, the former Bath, Bristol and Ireland centre, is a big step in the right direction.
That is the widespread view of Rotherham Titans players and supporters who believe Maggs' experience is just what is required from now until the end of the Championship season.
The 35-year-old Bristolian made a big impact in six matches towards the end of last season, and there is no reason why his return to Rotherham, to help coach Craig West, should not be as successful.
Maggs, who will not play at Moseley on Saturday, joins a group of players whose mood has been transformed following this impressive win at Clifton Lane.
Rotherham's third win in nine league games may have been dominated by another excellent contribution from the boot of fly-half Jonny West: 21 points made up of six penalties and a drop-goal. But the reason for the much-needed victory, after three consecutive defeats, was the power of the forwards.
All showed precisely the right level of commitment from start to finish, and the brutal way they smashed the Pirates' scrum on at least two occasions was magnificent.
Hooker Ross Batty again stood out as did props Nigel Conroy and Ben Prescott. Flanker Tinus du Plessis tackled everyone in sight, and his absence for the next four matches because of World Cup qualifying matches with Namibia is a significant blow.
The force of the pack created Roth's only try by scrum half Neil Chivers whose score put them in front 14-10 at the break.
The Pirates fought back strongly and by 68 minutes were only three points adrift, 23-20, after the conversion of their second try scored by forward Blair Cowan.
The fact that Roth did not fold and were able to win showed the team's growing maturity; West struck two more penalties on 73 and 82 minutes and with the side repelling late assaults on their line, the Titans survived.
Looking back, a brilliant drop-goal from 40 metres by skipper Michael Whitehead, putting Roth ahead 20-13, boosted morale and indicated that when Roth show some enterprise they can be a force to be feared.
"I think this was our best performance so far," was the opinion of try scorer Chivers."The forwards were fantastic and gave me a good platform to play off. We retained possession, everyone wanted to work and it was the togetherness that shone through."
n Rotherham: Whitehead, Feeley, Burrell, Buckley, Farmer, West, Chivers, Conroy, Batty, Prescott, Challinor, Hayter, Swindall, Du Plessis, Dickinson. Reps: Quigley, Jenkins, Voisey, Burrows, Swatkins, Gidlow, Rhodes.
n Scorers: Roth: Try - Chivers; Penalties -West 6; Drop-goal - Whitehead, West.
Pirates: Tries - Doherty, Cowan; Conversions - Moore 2; Penalties - Moore 2.
n Referee: A.McMenemy (RFU).
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Weather for Sheffield
Thursday 09 February 2012
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