MATCH REPORT: RUTHLESS ROTHERHAM ROUT RAMS

RUTHLESS Rotherham Titans put Rams to the sword in an 80-7 National One defeat at Clifton Lane.

There was little to foreshadow what was to follow during an even opening 10 minutes, albeit the hosts hit the front when wing James Norman crossed on the left.

Lloyd Hayes added the extras, but Rams responded well.

And after a powerful maul was held up over the line, they crossed soon after as Fergus Dick cut a beautiful line to go under the posts from the home 22.

The scores were level after Mike Cooke slotted a simple kick, but that was as good as it got.

Titans regained the lead as Hayes sliced through following several attacking phases, his kick making it 14-7.

The league’s leading point-scorer then doubled his tally as he shimmied over before slotting a third conversion.

And Rotherham took a firm grip of proceedings with the final play of the first half.

Firstly they won a scrum against the head, JB Bruzulier and Norman racing down the left before the ball was switched across the park for Mitchell Lacey-Babalola to finish.

Hosts put foot down after interval

Things got worse early in the second period as Norman doubled up wide left, Hayes remaining dead-eye with another fine conversion.

Try number six came from a 22 drop-out, full back Isaac Shaw returning the kick with interest before freeing John Okafor to gallop away.

By now title-chasing Titans were beginning to purr, but their next score came from power as Callum Bustin rode over at the back of a maul.

Hayes unsurprisingly landed again, and he repeated the trick after Bustin ran in from halfway following a Rams spill in midfield.

There was no let-up despite the hosts reaching their half-century, Okafor returning the assist favour for Shaw to dot down following a fabulous off-load.

More slick work saw Norman complete his hat-trick as the title favourites moved into fifth gear, Hayes’ eighth kick from 10 attempts making it 66-7 with 10 minutes to play.

This meant time for two more, replacement prop Xavier Valentine firstly wriggling over from close range for another seven-pointer.

And a further gloss to a horrid score-line came with the final play, Shaw racing away from inside his own half before Hayes took his tally to 30 points.

Rams return to Old Bath Road against Rosslyn Park next Saturday (3pm).

A big crowd is on the cards with lunch already sold out. For tickets, click here