With Rotherham on a good run of form and Clifton Lane notorious as one of the most difficult grounds to visit a low scoring start to the game was perhaps expected. But none of the 2,500-or-so spectators would have anticipated a scoreless first quarter.

That’s not to say that it was a dour game or that no opportunities were generated. Indeed Titans skipper Mike Whitehead missed a third-minute penalty from in front of the sticks, having also missed a drop-goal immediately beforehand.

With the forecast rain having not materialised either both sides were able to control the ball and build phases. Although Saints had the first concerted build-up of pressure the Titans came closest to an opening score, being stopped by a couple of timely turnovers by the visiting pack.

Breaks were few and far between with only one player from each side slicing through. But neither Ben Lewitt or home scrum-half Chris Hallam found the support to turn their enterprise into something more meaningful.

Lewitt didn’t need support a minute into the second quarter when he had the line in his sights. Paul Tupai’s lineout catch five metres from the Titans line set up the play and Lewitt crossed unopposed for the try. Stephen Myler couldn’t convert but Saints would still have been happy to come away from the Titans’ 22 with points.

The home pack couldn’t emulate their visitors in their next attack, despite several opportunities to do so. A Hallam quick tap 20 metres out was perhaps not the best option with points on offer, but his break took Rotherham close to the line. Several more penalties and free kicks were turned into five metre scrums and the crowd bayed for a try.

Unfortunately for the home support the Saints line held and, with Euan Murray exerting pressure at the scrum, won a penalty. The visitors worked their way upfield and worked Paul Shields into space from a short lineout move. He was pulled back for a wonky throw but wasn’t to be denied in the 37th minute.

This time he was sent over the line by Alex Rae’s pass. The forwards may have finished on the right but the backs did the hard yards on the left to take Saints into Rotherham’s 22 once more. Myler again failed to add the extras but succeeded on the stroke of half-time with his third attempt at goal.

This was another conversion and this time it was a back who scored. Whitehead’s kick ahead found Carlos Spencer, who after running back to the chasers launched a bomb from the outside of his boot. Bruce Reihana recovered superbly, the ball was recycled quickly and Neil Starling stepped out of a tackle to cruise over.

The half ended with Saints leading 17-0 which, although not reflecting the balance of play, was a truer indication of the visitors’ ability to turn their opportunities into points.

Saints took their fourth opportunity with equal aplomb. Spencer’s chip was carried back over the Rotherham line and a five-metre scrum was awarded. This became a penalty, Ian Vass’s tap took the defence by surprise and Ashton came off his wing to score in the left corner and win the bonus point.

However the next time Saints visited the Titans’ danger zone they failed to turn the chance into further points when Reihana lost the ball in contact. Rotherham weren’t so lucky the next time Saints built up an attack.

After 20 minutes of cut and thrust from both sides Reihana spied forwards in front of him to make a run from deep. Jon Clarke, on as a replacement, swerved and stepped his way through the defence to go into Rotherham territory. The ball was recycled quickly again and Spencer went up the blind-side and flipped a pass out of contact for Ashton to score.

Ashton’s hat-trick try was more straightforward but fortunate nonetheless. Saints had been building another attack but lost the ball in midfield. However Rotherham failed to control, Ashton collected and raced past Neil Cochrane to score in the corner.

Reihana missed the conversion but with the score now at 34-0 and less than 10 minutes remaining the win was not in doubt. But Rotherham kept on looking for a try, coming close on a couple of occasions.

The Saints defence continued to hold out though and the visitors finished off in style. Sean Lamont broke down the left and with Clarke in support and the Titans rearguard smashed the try was inevitable. Also inevitable was that Ashton would be on the end for his fourth try, and with Reihana’s conversion the game was ended with a comfortable 41-0 nil victory.

Teams:
Rotherham Titans – Claassens; Allen, Lawson, Blackwood, Grissing; Whitehead (capt), Hallam (Chivers 70mins); Corsar (Corrigan 62mins), Conroy (O’Donnell 70mins), Boulton (Walsh 62mins), Waterhouse (O’Connor 59mins), McGowan, Dunlop, Cochrane, McComish.

Northampton Saints – Spencer; Ashton, Starling (Lamont 56mins), Downey, Reihana (capt); Myler (Clarke 56mins), Vass (Brake 69mins); Smith (Tonga’uiha 56mins), Shields (Hartley 56mins), Murray, Rae, Lord, Tupai, Lewitt, Easter.

Northampton Saints – Tries: Lewitt, Shields, Starling, Ashton (4); Con: Myler, Reihana (2).

TIMELINE:
21mins SAINTS Try Lewitt 0-5
37mins SAINTS Try Shields 0-10
40+7mins SAINTS Try Starling Con Myler 0-17
HALF-TIME TITANS 0 SAINTS 17
43mins SAINTS Try Ashton 0-22
61mins SAINTS Try Ashton Con Reihana 0-29
68mins SAINTS Try Ashton 0-34
80mins SAINTS Try Ashton Con Reihana 0-41
FULL-TIME TITANS 0 SAINTS 41