NOTTINGHAM scored three lightning-quick tries to produce
an unlikely come-from-behind victory against Rotherham to go second
in the RFU Championship.
SWEETEST THING: Jack Cobden marked his
return to the side with his first try of the season. PIC: ALISON
BOWDEN
In a flash, the game that the hosts had in their control at 12-8
was over as captain Brent Wilson, Andy Forsyth and Alex Lewington
machine-gunned the 14-man Titans down is six of the most
devastating minutes of the season.
The Green and Whites scored 24 points after Rotherham scrum-half
Charlie Mulchrone was sin-binned on 73 minutes.
The match started and finished with a bang after the
injury-plagued Jack Cobden marked his surprise late call-up with a
scintillating try in the opening minute. The former junior England
international was only brought into the side 90 minutes before
kick-off with David Jackson succumbing to illness.
The East Midlands club got off on the right foot to blow open an
8-0 lead following James Arlidge's try conversion and penalty
inside five minutes. But Rotherham denied the Green and Whites a
firm-footing on the contest at Clifton Lane with a typically
belligerent display.
Garry Law had the Titans in a strong, if exposed position,
converting four penalties to extend the lead on the hour.
All the hosts' good work was undone when Mulchrone was shown a
yellow card. Immediately, Wilson pounced on the advantage,
displaying just why he leads Nottingham try-scoring chart by
breaking away from a maul on Rotherham's line to crash over.
There are few things more dangerous in England's second tier
competition than a Nottingham side with the scent of victory in the
air.
Andy Forsyth came off the bench to add a third try before
Lewington bamboozled Rotherham with a stunning solo effort a minute
from time to bag the four-try bonus point.
The romp was complete when Arlidge nailed his second penalty of
the afternoon in injury time.
And the grand stand finish only got better after the match with
Championship strugglers London Scottish upsetting high-flyer
Bedford, leaving Nottingham sitting in second place behind run-away
leaders Newcastle on points difference.
Martin Haag's men now turn their attentions to the British and
Irish Cup, needing to beat Doncaster away this weekend and Welsh
Principality Premiership side Llandovery to secure a place in the
second round.
Rotherham 12 (Law 4
Pens) Nottingham Rugby 32 (Jack Cobden,
Wilson, Forsyth, Lewington Tries; Arlidge 3 Conv; Arlidge 2
Pens)
Nottingham:Lewington, Jack Cobden, Streather
(sub: Forsyth 58), Munro, Crane, Arlidge, Romans, Harris, Malton
(sub: Wright 76), Holford (sub: Bower 61), Montagu, Rouse (sub:
Price 76), Cooper (sub: Shaw 62), Wilson, Calladine.
Ref:G McDonald. Att:1, 498