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Titans concentrate on derby
Rotherham's players and coaches, Craig West and Kevin Maggs, today start preparing Titans for their biggest home match of the season, Saturday's South Yorkshire derby against Doncaster, who have won their last four matches in the Championship.
If Rotherham are to beat their rivals, they must avoid repeating the mistakes that cost them victory against Moseley in Birmingham.
Titans, well in control and playing some excellent rugby which produced tries for forward Gregor Hayter and scrum-half Neil Chivers, led 20-6 after only 21 minutes.
However, for the second season running at Moseley, Rotherham collapsed. Possession was given carelessly away, several knock-ons handed the ball to Moseley's forwards and with the Birmingham side dominating, Titans were prevented from threatening Moseley's line.
So much so that Rotherham failed to score between 21 and 77 minutes. By contrast, Moseley recovered strongly to score 20 match-winning points, which meant that West's team suffered their seventh defeat in 10 league games.
The award of a penalty try after 55 minutes turned the contest Moseley's way and with the successful conversion, Moseley led 25-20.
But worse was to follow. Rotherham, frequently having to defend and unable to win the ball to go forward, conceded two penalties that put Moseley firmly in charge at 31-20. Considering the promising start, to descend into this self-inflicted crisis was deeply frustrating but with only three minutes of normal time remaining, Rotherham at last kept the ball and launched a dangerous attack from their own 22.
The thrilling move which wrecked Moseley's defence finished with winger Jon Feeley touching down. Rotherham's hopes of a late win soared when Michael Whitehead's accurate touchline conversion went over, cutting Moseley's lead to 31-27.
However, Rotherham were forced to defend their line and with Moseley controlling the ball again, Titans could not break through at the other end of Billesley Common.
So, Rotherham, who ought to have won and need to learn how to defend a lead and how to win games when they are in control, had to leave Birmingham with a losing bonus point only.
Now thoughts turn to the Doncaster clash at Clifton Lane on Saturday.
"I am looking forward very much to scrummaging against my old pal Stuart Corsar," said Rotherham prop Ben Prescott.
"Doncaster have got all their boys back now and are stringing together some results but the game is on our own patch and there's no reason why we can't beat them there.
"We started well against Moseley and had a good tempo. But in the second half, they were always on the front foot. Moseley are very direct runners and are difficult to defend against," added Prescott.
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Weather for Sheffield
Thursday 09 February 2012
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