Rotherham Rugby - Match Report wrote:
Connacht (27) vs Rotherham Titans (25) - British & Irish Cup
Saturday October 19th - KO 2:30pm
www.rotherhamrugby.co.uk/fixtures/189/co...vs-rotherham-titans/
Pre-Match Report
Titans Head Coach Lee Blackett has made seven changes going into the tie with five of those coming in the pack. Tom Cruse and Colin Quigley return to front row action, Ben Thomas comes in at second row and the back row sees Alex Rieder and Ed Williamson return to action.
Charlie Mulchrone returns at scrum half and will take the Captains armband, Joel Gill will wear the number 13 jersey and Welsh pocket rocket Jack Roberts moves across to inside centre as Juan Pablo Socino misses the trip due to a leg injury.
Before departure Blackett commented, “We know what a good side we are facing in Connacht and going over there is never easy. However, we have picked a strong side and our aim is to do well in this competition; if we play to how I know we can, we’ll give ourselves an opportunity.”
Rotherham Titans: 15 Michael Keating, 14 Jamie Broadley, 13 Joel Gill, 12 Jack Roberts, 11 Curtis Wilson, 10 Dallan Murphy, 9 Charlie Mulchrone (Capt.), 1 Mike Dias, 2 Tom Cruse, 3 Colin Quigley, 4 Barney Maddison, 5 Ben Thomas, 6 Alex Rieder, 7 Jack Preece, 8 Ed Williamson.
Replacements: 16 Ben Sowrey, 17 Mark Tampin, 18 Dan Sanderson, 19 Ali Birch, 20 Laurence Pearce, 21 Dan White, 22 Lloyd Hayes.
Match Report
Connacht full back Darragh Leader achieved hero status when he landed a monster late penalty to snatch victory for Connacht Eagles 27-25 over Rotherham Titans in Round 2 of the British and Irish Cup at the Sportsground.
Titans went in at the break 12-3 ahead, following tries by openside flanker Jack Preece and scrumhalf Charlie Mulchrone; Dallan Murphy missed his first conversion but made amends with his second.
Connacht, who had Fionn Carr sin-binned early on, got their only score of the first-half with a penalty from Captain Jack Carty.
Titans conceded early in the second period as centre Rory Parata crossed for a well-worked try on 46 minutes. Carty converted from the touchline to make it 12-10.
Rotherham however bounced back quickly; first Lloyd Hayes knocked over a penalty on 48 minutes and then Titans grabbed their third try as hooker Tom Cruse touched down after 50 minutes, Hayes converted to extend Titans advantage to 22-10.
Leader touched down in the corner on the hour mark after some good build-up play by Connacht with Carty again converting before replacement Eoghan Masterson scored the home side’s third try off the back of a scrum. Carty converted to put the Eagles 24-22 up with seven minutes to go.
Titans thought they had won it as Hayes scored a 77th minute penalty but that man Leader had the last say as his massive penalty split the posts to cruelly deny the Clifton Lane men the spoils.
Post match Titans Lee Blackett lamented, “I thought the boys had done enough to shade the contest and we’re all disappointed that we didn’t manage to get over the line. However, it’s still very tight in the pool, there’s still a lot to play for and there’s no doubt that we will bounce back stronger from this.”
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