Hayhow’s hat-trick guns down poor Titans
Rotherham ……16
Rams …………….28
RAMS centre Connor Hayhow scored a thrilling hat-trick at Clifton Lane as the Berkshire club continued their successful start in National One by achieving their 7th win in 10 matches.
In sharp contrast, Rotherham, struggling towards the bottom of the league, lost their third consecutive match at home and didn't score a try until just before the final whistle.
The Reading team were sharper all round and took advantage of their superior possession to overcome the Titans by four tries to one.
The handling of the backs was particularly impressive and Hayhow took advantage as he smashed Rotherham's defence, once in the first half after 13 minutes and then twice in the second on 56 and 72 minutes.
Earlier, winger Conor Corrigan sliced through weak defending to score Rams' second try before the interval.
Rams' margin of victory should have been bigger but they missed two scoring opportunities at the end of the first half which reprieved the Yorkshire side.
The Titans relied on the accurate goal kicking of flyhalf Sam Hollingsworth, striking three penalties to keep his side in the contest, but when Rotherham finally looked as if they might break through with 15 minutes remaining, they were stopped several times by outstanding defence.
However, just before the end their pack's efforts in an entertaining game were rewarded when N0.8 Anthony Maka was driven over.
Bt his score didn't hide the growing concern at Clifton Lane as Rotherham's woes continued for another week.
TEAMS
ROTHERHAM: Bacon, Leake, Cooke, Bullough, Robbins, Hollingsworth, Dever, Williams, Newborn, Dennis, Preston- Routledge, Frost, Wilson, Poole, Maka
Replacements: Bergmanas, Whitfield, Ward, Laxton, Bunting
RAMS: Partington, Bird, Leicester, Hayhow, Corrigan, Humberstone, Cole, Kidd, Henderson, Baker, Taylor, Guttridge, Wolf, Vooght, Stapley
Replacements: Moffitt, Zeiss, Collis, Rossiter, Moates
REFEREE: Joe James
ATTENDANCE: 483
Star man
Connor Hayhow – Rams
