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Super Socino stars in Titans late show
Rotherham Titans 19 Bedford Blues 16
Rotherham's Argentinean centre, Juan Pablo Socino, once again won a game for the Titans in dramatic style…just as he did against Bristol in the opening game of the new Championship season last Sunday.
At Clifton Lane yesterday, the 22 year old from Buenos Aires, who was playing in South Wales last season for the little known club of Tonmawr, yet again repeated his knack of earning a win for his new club in the last minute of playing time.
Socino scored a superb try on 87 minutes and then added the conversion to clinch the Titans' consecutive victory in the league against a team which had been leading 16-12 until the Argentinean's flash of brilliance.
Realising that something special had to be done, Socino switched his attack to the blind side which Bedford had not protected.
Rotherham's match winner dashed down the touchline to score a thrilling try, a score that seized the four points for Rotherham whose team spirit shone throughout a close game that Bedford should never have lost and one which Titans were fortunate to win.
Socino's score owed much to his natural flair and pace, and on the evidence of his first two Championship matches,the Titans have found a gem.
"When I got the ball I just ran and ran and kept going. The try line was there. My score looked easy but it wasn't," said Socino.
"It was tough game and we were lucky but we fought every minute.
" I am really happy at Titans and am grateful they gave me the opportunity to play Championship rugby - the highest level I have played.
"I want to become a good player," added Socino who surely has the ability to play Test rugby for Argentina once he has developed.
The 22 year old has made a tremendous start to his career at Clifton Lane. Sixteen points with the boot at Bristol a week ago and now in only his second league match, he has improved on that by scoring all Rotherham's 19 points.
If anyone had suggested that Rotherham under new coach Andre Bester would have won their first two games against top sides like Bristol and Bedford, he or she would have been ridiculed.
But Bester is putting together a competitive squad and once their mistakes, like throwing away possession and conceding far too many penalties, are put right, they will develop into a side that is genuinely feared.
Bester now begins planning for this Saturday's clash at Worcester, without doubt the toughest contest of the Championship campaign.
Rotherham may not beat the side that was relegated from the Premiership last season, but Bester's young side should learn a lot by playing against full time professionals.
Rotherham Titans: Welding, Swatkins, Hepworth, Socino, Rhodes, Hodgson, Bedford, Steencamp, Loney, R.O'Donnell, Harris, Sandford, Burrows, Baines,Kettle.Reps: Quigley, A.O'Donnell, McGowan, McGregor, Dickinson, Stimpson,Paul.
Titans scorers - try: Socino. conversion: Socino. penalties: Socino: 4.
Bedford - try: Veenendaal, conversion: Pritchard. penalties: Pritchard 3.
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Weather for Sheffield
Saturday 26 May 2012
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