MATCH REPORT: TITANS END VIKINGS CURSE TO MOVE JOINT TOP

RAMS Titans finally ended their Richmond Vikings hoodoo at the 10th time of trying with a superb 53-26 home Raging Bull Shield Division One success.

In a top-of-the-table clash, it was the hosts who took the lead midway through the first quarter, No. 8 Terrel Harry taking a short pass following a five-metre scrum to dive over in the left-hand corner.

A marvellous conversion from Tom Humberstone made it 7-0, but Richmond levelled through a close-range snipe from Rhett Butler, Jack Martin with the extras.

Titans, though, responded in stunning style with a glorious try, Rowan Grundy slicing through in midfield before Sam Rennell’s inside ball sent Solodrau Radianirova over on the right.

A second converted effort from near the hosts’ try-line put ‘Mond in front, but the lead changed hands again as Titans replied in kind, second row Ross Crame the scorer.

Humberstone’s straight-forward kick made it 19-14, only for the ebb and flow nature of the contest to continue when some lovely work from Butler sent Conrad Burne 50 metres down the left for an equaliser.

It was the home side, though, who had the final word of the first half, the returning Ollie Moffitt touching down at the back of a phenomenal 10-metre rolling maul before Humberstone made it 26-19 at the interval.

A small amount of daylight was established for the first time shortly after the break, Harry doubling his tally by burrowing over before Humberstone found the target, but Richmond cut the gap back to seven as Butler repeated the trick of his first sniping effort.

However, from there Titans put their foot down in emphatic style.

Firstly, a lovely angled run and beautifully timed pass from Ellis Jones allowed Radianirova to double his tally, and it was the Welshman who was again the creator as he off-loaded superbly out of the tackle to send Grundy under the posts shortly after.

Humberstone’s drop-kick attempt at the conversion missed left, but there was no let-up from the home side as they grabbed an eighth try as the game entered the final 10 minutes, Niall Kidd the beneficiary of another surging maul.

And with the rain starting to fall there was still time for one more show of strength from Titans, a five-metre scrum pushing their opponents back across the line before Josh Collis dotted down for the final points of the afternoon.

The win leaves Titans level on points at the top with Richmond, with their next game due to be under the Friday Night lights at Esher on March 8.