Greene King IPA Championship
Rotherham Titans 24-23 Ealing Trailfinders
It came down to the last kick of the game - and a kick in the teeth for Trailfinders.
Determined to start the season on the front foot, they led 23-21 only for Titans fly half Tom Barrett to land a stunning penalty from 48 metres to win the match.
He had already missed 11 points, but when Ealing were hoping for more misses, he slotted the one that mattered.
Ealing claimed just the solitary bonus point in the Rotherham sun, and staved off an early flirt with the foot of the table, and just as importantly for coach Ben Ward’s side was a massive contrast with the last time they were in south Yorkshire.
The season before Trailfinders were massacred 79-9.
This time, they opened the scoring after two minutes when Alex Davies notched the first of 10 points with the boot on his debut.
It wasn’t to last when Titans inched ahead, but before half time Ealing captain Chris York picked off from the back of a scrum to dot down for a try that Davies converted to restore the lead.
Trailfinders stretched it early in the second period when Tristan Roberts popped over a drop-goal, but Rotherham slotted a penalty and a second try when eventually Number 8 Tim Cree forced his way over.
The see-saw tipped Trailfinders’ way once again when York offloaded to Arthur Ellis who ran in from just outside the 22.
Penalties were traded and a priceless start was in the offing, but from a ruck Rotherham won one a last penalty and Barrett’s belter left Ealing a long drive down the M1 with mixed emotions.
Scorers
Rotherham Titans
Tries (Holmes 27, Cree 48), Conversions (Barrett 48), Penalties (Barrett 45, 68, 80), Drop-goals (Barrett 20)
Ealing Trailfinders
Tries (York 38, Ellis 66), Conversions (Davies 38, 66), Penalties (Davies 2, 77), Drop-goals (Roberts 42)
