Moseley 16 Rotherham Titans 11: Unlucky 7 as Rotherham throw it away

And instead of clinging to a narrow lead, they lost and stay in deep trouble in the Championship.

In the closest of contests against fellow strugglers, Rotherham were 11-6 in front with 10 minutes remaining but foolishly lost control of a game that appeared to be heading their way and with it four invaluable points.

A crazy tackle by flanker Tom Calladine on 70 minutes changed the course of the match, handed Moseley the four points and much to the annoyance of Titans’ coach Mark Jones it meant that his side left Birmingham with only one point which keeps them in 10th place on 28 points, seven ahead of bottom club Ealing and four in front of Moseley.

Calladine’s reckless tackle on Moseley skipper Chris Brightwell brought about an instant yellow card, so Rotherham were cut to 14 men at such an important stage of the game.

Moseley cashed in and scored a try by forward Greg Charlton seven minutes from the end, and with the successful conversion, Moseley now led by 13-11.

If that blow wasn’t bad enough, worse was to follow. Rotherham were then penalised on 80 minutes and once again Moseley’s goal kicker, Charlie Foley, was successful as another three points were added.

Moseley’s victory was handed to them by yet another outbreak of ill-discipline by a team whose survival in the Championship is being seriously questioned.

Rotherham have now lost seven consecutive league games; their last win was in November at Nottingham and the Titans have six games remaining in which they can guarantee their status as a Championship club.

“Ill-discipline cost us and the yellow card lost us the game. We took the lead resulting from the two penalties by Ross Jones and kept it for half an hour and when you control a game, it doesn’t make it any easier when you lose.

“ It’s so frustrating and I’m not sure when the penny will drop for some of our players when it comes to the importance of self-discipline.

“ We created another two or three try scoring opportunities after Darran Harris’s try but couldn’t finish them off which is very disappointing because in the Championship you don’t get many scoring chances.

“The one point we got could be vital by the end of the season,” explained Jones.

Rotherham’s next league match is in a fortnight at Clifton Lane against fourth placed Bedford, but beforehand they take on Ealing Trailfinders in the re-arranged tie in the British and Irish Cup at home this Saturday.

Rotherham Titans: Goodwin, Keating, Hayes, Davies, Scanlon, Jones, Carter, Williams, Harris, Tampin, Holmes, Oram, Argyle, Calladine, Ryan. Replacements: Thiede, Cree, Birch, Maddison, Elliot, White, Gill.

Scorers: Try: Harris. Penalties: Jones 2.

Referee: Darren Gamage. instead of clinging to a narrow lead, they lost and stay in deep trouble in the Championship.

In the closest of contests against fellow strugglers, Rotherham were 11-6 in front with 10 minutes remaining but foolishly lost control of a game that appeared to be heading their way and with it four invaluable points.

A crazy tackle by flanker Tom Calladine on 70 minutes changed the course of the match, handed Moseley the four points and much to the annoyance of Titans’ coach Mark Jones it meant that his side left Birmingham with only one point which keeps them in 10th place on 28 points, seven ahead of bottom club Ealing and four in front of Moseley.

Calladine’s reckless tackle on Moseley skipper Chris Brightwell brought about an instant yellow card, so Rotherham were cut to 14 men at such an important stage of the game.

Moseley cashed in and scored a try by forward Greg Charlton seven minutes from the end, and with the successful conversion, Moseley now led by 13-11.

If that blow wasn’t bad enough, worse was to follow. Rotherham were then penalised on 80 minutes and once again Moseley’s goal kicker, Charlie Foley, was successful as another three points were added.

Moseley’s victory was handed to them by yet another outbreak of ill-discipline by a team whose survival in the Championship is being seriously questioned.

Rotherham have now lost seven consecutive league games; their last win was in November at Nottingham and the Titans have six games remaining in which they can guarantee their status as a Championship club.

“Ill-discipline cost us and the yellow card lost us the game. We took the lead resulting from the two penalties by Ross Jones and kept it for half an hour and when you control a game, it doesn’t make it any easier when you lose.

“ It’s so frustrating and I’m not sure when the penny will drop for some of our players when it comes to the importance of self-discipline.

“ We created another two or three try scoring opportunities after Darran Harris’s try but couldn’t finish them off which is very disappointing because in the Championship you don’t get many scoring chances.

“The one point we got could be vital by the end of the season,” explained Jones.

Rotherham’s next league match is in a fortnight at Clifton Lane against fourth placed Bedford, but beforehand they take on Ealing Trailfinders in the re-arranged tie in the British and Irish Cup at home this Saturday.

Rotherham Titans: Goodwin, Keating, Hayes, Davies, Scanlon, Jones, Carter, Williams, Harris, Tampin, Holmes, Oram, Argyle, Calladine, Ryan. Replacements: Thiede, Cree, Birch, Maddison, Elliot, White, Gill.

Scorers: Try: Harris. Penalties: Jones 2.

Referee: Darren Gamage.