Roth 24 Bedford 26

Michael Wood
By Roth Admin
January 4 2005

Rotherham lost their 7th game in their last nine outings yesterday going down 24-26 to a capable Bedford side. It was also their 3rd consecutive league defeat and you have to go back over seven years since they last suffered three successive losses at this level. Worrying times indeed!

It was high drama at Clifton Lane as Roth trailed 23-3 with 10 minutes remaining. Then three converted tries saw the hosts nudge a single point ahead only to concede a silly penalty five minutes into injury time which Leigh Hinton converted to give the visitors a deserved victory.

Rotherham defended well in the first half with a stiff wind in their faces. Three Leigh Hinton penalties to one from Ramiro Pez saw the visitors go in at the break 9-3 ahead.

Then after the restart a careless 10 minute spell saw Bedford score two converted tries. The first from replacement Soane Tonga’uiha – the big man picked up 15 metres out and crashed through some lapse defending to go over. The second on 49 minutes after some good ball retention from the Bedford forwards enabled Ben Lewitt to be driven over by his pack.

On 70 minutes Rotherham started their comeback. Good work from the pack enabled Ripol to make a good break who then did well to offload in the tackle for Pete Jorgensen to crash over for a converted try.

Eight minutes later and with Bedford down to 14 men, a five metre Roth scrum was deliberately collapse to prevent Roth scoring. However this tactic didn’t work as the Referee awarded a penalty try. Pez converted in front of the posts.

One minute into injury time Jannie Bornman broke through on halfway and galloped 50 metres. As the last ditch tackle came in from Hinton he somehow held Bornman up over the line. The resultant 5 metre scrum however gave the South African the try he deserved. Pez converted to complete a remarkable comeback and give Roth a 24-23 advantage deep into injury time.

Rotherham’s biggest crowd of the season were in raptures. However this was to be short-lived, from the restart Tuiavii knocked on and Emms caught the ball in an off side position. Up stepped Leigh Hinton to convert and break Rotherham hearts.


Final Score: Rotherham Titans 24 Bedford Blues 26


Afterwards Head Coach Mike Schmid commented, “There were key mistakes at key times and there were two crucial moments in the second-half where we missed the kick-off and then after scoring to take the lead we missed the kick-off again. I thought it might have been harsh to give a penalty on that occasion but if we had have played better we might not have found ourselves in that situation.”


Rotherham Titans
15, Oriol Ripol 14, Michael Wood, 13, Peter Jorgensen, 12, Lee Blackett, 11, Daniel Naylor, 10, Ramiro Pez, 9, Brendan Haami, 1, John Rawson, 2 Neil Briggs (Emms 53), 3, Colin Noon (Golding 80), 4, Opeta Palepoi (Pendlebury 71), 5, Glen Kenworthy, 6, Des Tuiavii ©, 7, Tu Tamarua, 8, Jannie Bornman (Schmid 80)

Replacements
16, Richard Emms, 17, Jonathon Golding, 18, Rod Latham, 19, Jon Pendlebury, 20, Mike Schmid, 21, Jacob Rauluni, 22, Tom Eaton.

Bedford Blues
15, Leigh Hinton, 14, Ben Whetstone, 13, Mike Staten, 12, Matt Allen, 11, James Hinkins, 10, Ali Hepher, 9, Ian Vass, 1, Matt Volland, 2, Chris Johnson, 3, John Brooks, 4, Jon Phillips, 5, Arthur Brenton, 6, Nic Strauss, 7, Ben Lewitt, 8, Junior Paramore

Replacements
16, Joe Ross, 17, Soane Tonga’uiha, 18, Andy Phillips, 19, Shaun Brady, 20, James Graham, 21, Karl Dickson, 22, Ed Binham

Roth Admin Man of the Match: Oriol Ripol

Attendance: 1,821

Referee: N Higginson (RFU)

Scorers – Rotherham: Tries: Jorgensen, penalty, Bornman; cons: Pez 3; pen: Pez. Sin-bin: Emms
Bedford: Tries: Tonga'uiha, Lewitt; cons: Hinton 2; pens: Hinton 4. Sin-bin: Vass, Ross, Brenton, Lewitt.