Rosslyn Park 26 – 36 Rotherham Titans
31/01/26
Rosslyn Park fell short against a physical Rotherham Titans side at The Rock in a tense contest. Park came out of the blocks early but were ultimately undone by the visitors’ powerful pack. A second-half try from Charlie Piper and a late penalty try weren’t enough to haul the hosts back into the game.
Park started the brighter of the two sides, with Jack Digby bursting through a gap before some quick phases on the line allowed Tom Stanton to go over after six minutes with Bill Johnston adding the extras. However, just four minutes later ill-discipline from Park gifted Titans field position, and from five metres out John Okafor glided under the sticks.
Park responded immediately from the restart, collecting the kick before a beautiful line from Joe Luca Smith saw him cross the whitewash. Johnston was unable to add the extras on this occasion.
The remainder of the first half saw Park forced into a tough defensive effort. With multiple penalties building, Jack Baldry bulldozed through a gap 22 minutes in to give Titans the lead, the conversion extending it to two points. Matters worsened for the hosts on the stroke of half an hour when, with advantage in hand, a cross-field kick found Mitchell Lacey-Babalola, who finished well to give the visitors a 21–12 lead going into the sheds.
Park began the second half in the right vein, another sharp line from Smith creating the opening for Piper to crash over from close range. Discipline issues soon crept back in, though, as Archie Hosking was shown a yellow card for repeated infringements on Park’s line.
Titans capitalised on the extra man at 53 minutes. As Park looked to relieve the pressure, a clever pick-up from Isaac Shaw sent Jackson Barling into the corner to restore a seven-point cushion. More frustration followed when Cameron King was sent to the bin at 57 minutes, and Rotherham again made the numerical advantage count. After sustained pressure, Lacey-Babalola crossed for his second at 64 minutes to make it 33–19. A couple of minutes later, Hayes extended the lead with a penalty, leaving Park with a mountain to climb in the final ten minutes.
The hosts did manage a consolation in the 74th minute, securing a try bonus point as Ewan Fenley looked certain to offload for the score before being denied by Okafor, who was shown yellow for his actions, resulting in a penalty try.
It’s been a tough run for Park, having faced league leaders Plymouth last week, and after this weekend’s 36–26 defeat the lads will be itching to bounce back as they head to Birmingham next weekend.
Star man: Maurice Nwakor
Attendance: 463
Referee: George Ounsley
Rosslyn Park
Tries: Stanton (6’) Smith (11’) Piper (42’) Penalty Try (74’)
Conversions: Johnston (6’) Smith (42’)
Penalties: N/a
Yellow Cards: Hosking (48’), King (58’)
Team: Nwakor, Piper, Wade, Cleet, Bell, Digby (C), Hosking, King, Fenley, Johnston, Marfo, Stanton, Smith, Mehson, Walker
Replacements: Fraine, Cade, Orchard, Mulchrone, Cordy-Redden
Rortham Titans
Tries: Okafor (10’), Baldry (22’), Lacey-Babalola (25’, 64’), Barling (53’)
Conversions: Hayes (10’, 23’, 26’, 64’)
Penalties: Hayes (69’)
Yellow Cards: Okarfor (74’)
Team: Donkor, Veness, Foster, Gascoigne, Gilson-Fox, Okafor, Newborn (C), Baldry, Bruzulier Povey, Lacey-Babalola, Gordan, Hayes, Barling, Shaw
Replacements: Cole, Toerien, Valentine, Maguire, Broad.