The visitors made a fast start as they returned a kick with interest, some slick handling sending Travis Gordon over for a score added to by Lloyd Hayes.
Yet Rams replied sensationally, Max Hayman making an initial break before second row Liam Elston, who enjoyed a coming-of-age display, threw an outrageous dummy before showing tremendous pace to race in from 40 metres out.
Mike Cooke landed the extras, but Rams were then somewhat unfortunate to concede a Hayes penalty after the visitors had knocked on halfway, the Berkshire men losing 30 metres before the kick was landed.
Rotherham were nearly over again when another poor home kick-chase ended with them knocking on just short of the line, yet the warning signs were not heeded.
Hosts pay for poor kicking
On this occasion the impressive Jackson Barling did superbly to keep a kick to touch in play after the hosts won a scrum penalty five metres from their own line, and some strong carries and slick handling ended with John Okafor stretching over.
Rams responded well, though, and Zach Clow’s beautiful grubber was collected by Oli Rhoads for the wing to cross for his fifth try in three games.
But once again the hosts lost the kicking battle, Barling over on the right before Hayes slotted the conversion.
The irrepressible Elston almost repeated his magic trick soon after, only to be snagged inside the 22, and his side were pinged for a forward pass.
But the away team secured their bonus-point with another try from within their half, claiming an overthrown line-out before Shaw and Barling combined to send Hayes over for a converted score.
Rams were close to cutting the gap when they knocked on with a maul heading over the line, and leading 29-12 at the break, the visitors bossed the opening 10 minutes of the second period.
Hosts launch ferocious fightback
They were held to another Hayes penalty despite heavy pressure, however, and Rams then hammered away at the line before Harry Stone contorted his way over from close range.
Cooke was on target before Hayes was sin-binned for a high tackle, and the cat was well and truly among the pigeons as Axel Kalling-Smith went over.
The score was set-up by a 40-metre Hayman break from within his own 22, Willo Bicknell stopped short before the ball was switched right for the Swedish star to dot down for converted effort.
Yet the hosts again shot themselves in the foot, conceding a penalty in front of the uprights for Rob Povey to make it 35-26.
Hope sprang again as Clow finished superbly on the left with a minute to spare, but having kicked the ball out from the restart, they conceded a penalty at the line-out before full-time was called.
Rams travel to second-placed Rosslyn Park next Saturday (3pm).
Final Score: Rams 31-35 Rotherham Titans (Half Time: 12-29)
Scorers
Rams
Tries: Elston 6, Rhoads 18, Stone 54, Kalling-Smith 65, Clow 77
Conversions: Cooke 7, 55, 66
Rotherham Titans
Tries: Gordon 3, Okafor 16, Barling 21, Hayes 33
Conversions: Hayes 4, 22, 34
Penalties: Hayes 9, 50 Povey 71
Star Man: Jackson Barling (Rotherham Titans)
Referee: George Ounsley
Attendance: 820
Rams
(15-9, 1-8) Clow, Kalling-Smith, Jones, Grundy, Rhoads, Cooke, Boxhall; Harris, Hayman ©, Lomas, Stapley, Elston, Stone, Tull, Bicknell
Replacements: Marris, Baker, Duda, MacRae, Hodgson
Rotherham Titans
(15-9, 1-8) Shaw, Barling, Hayes, Gordon, Lacey-Babalola, Povey, Bruzilier; Donkor, Cole, Valentine, Gascoigne, Gilson-Fox, Okafor, Newborn ©, Bustin
Replacements: Veness, Toerien, Foster, Baldry, Broad
