Robbins decides relegation clash
Rotherham T …….26
Hull Ionians ……….10
WING Ben Robbins' two tries helped relegation battlers Rotherham Titans to an essential win over Yorkshire rivals Hull Ionians.
With nearest rivals Birmingham Moseley's game called off, the Clifton Lane outfit needed to capitalise and they did, also collecting a four-try bonus point to trim the gap to safety to six points.
Storm Dennis had a big say in the contest and Rotherham did well to get to the break 7-3 in front after playing the first half with a strong wind in their faces and losing Harry Dunne to the sin bin. Robbins won his own kick and chase to score the only try of the half, converted by Sam Hollingsworth, while a penalty from Max Titchener was all the visitors had to show for long spells of pressure.
Even though the home backs moved the slippery ball well to set up Robbins' second try ten minutes into the second half, Ionians hit back when Joe Makin crashed over and Titchener converted to pull within two.
Looking to stave off an 11th straight defeat, Ionians dug in but were worn down by Rotherham's persistence.
Zak Poole finished off some good work by the forwards to claim their third try and with the wind and the momentum behind them, Titans set up the position for replacement prop Toby Williams to go over for the precious fourth score.
TEAMS
ROTHERHAM: Bacon, Robbins, Bullough, Dunne, Benjamin, Hollingsworth, Dever, Whitfield, Bergmanas, Dennis, Preston-Routledge, Frost, Wilson, Poole, Curran
Replacements: Newborn, Williams, Stout, Maka, Boxhall
HULL IONIANS: Titchener, Beadle, Minkin, Trueman, Smith, T. Stephenson, Crane, Laverick, B. Stephenson, Bell, Makin, Heelas, Mewburn, Sanderson, Brown
Replacements: Peace, Butler, Whyte, Choudhury, Kirk
REFEREE: James O'Brien
ATTENDANCE: 491
Star man
Ben Robbins – Rotherham
