London Irish eased to a bonus point victory over Rotherham Titans, scoring 12 tries in their final regular home game of the season.
A hat-trick from Alex Lewington, and braces from Blair Cowan, Brendan McKibbin and Aseli Tikoriotuma as well as tries from Ollie Hoskins, Theo Brophy Clews and Tommy Bell also secured the win.
Making eight changes from the league defeat against Jersey last time out, leaders Exiles were looking to bounce back and build momentum in their final home match before the play-offs.
After conceding an early penalty which Titans Fly-Half Caolan Ryan duly kicked over, Irish were quick to respond when Greig Tonks’ grubber kick was met by winger Lewington who touched down for the game’s first try. Tonks added the extras to put Irish 7-3 ahead.
Exiles extended their lead on 16 minutes, spreading play out to the right before Aseli Tikoirotuma went ran through a couple of Titans to score, with Tonks converting making it 14-3.
Irish were again rewarded for their dominance with flanker Blair Cowan bundling over and Tonks converting to bring up 100 points for the Scot at the club.
Exiles continued to press in search of the bonus point, taking advantage of a dropped ball to head to the corner, eventually leading to a number of scrums on the Titan’s five-metre line as Rotherham struggled to get out of their own 22.
As half-time approached, Exiles scored again through Cowan and Treviranus who drove forward and got the ball out wide to Lewington who went over in the corner for his second try of the match, to secure the bonus point, with Tonks adding the extras to give Irish a healthy 28-3 lead heading into the break.
Irish picked up from where they left off at the end of the first period, with Brendan McKibbin going over the line for Exiles and again Tonks adding the extras. Irish quickly added to their try tally through Ollie Hoskins before Tonks kicked over to make it 42-3.
Irish did not let up and Cowan was there to score his second try of the day as replacement Tommy Bell added the extras to put Exiles 49-3 in front.
Relentess Exile pressure enabled scrum-half McKibbin to cross again and further pile on the misery for Rotherham who would leave the Madejski with little to show for their efforts.
The tries just kept coming as Tikoirotuma broke through the Titans defence for the second time to score for Exiles, with Bell converting. Number 10 Theo Brophy Clews also got on the scoresheet with Irish’s 10th try as Irish headed for their biggest win of the season.
Bell also got in on the action on his return from injury, going over and converting to leave just enough time for Lewington to get his hat-trick out wide on the right with Tonks converting to leave the final score as 82-3 in the Exiles’ favour.
LONDON IRISH: Tonks, Lewington, Tikoirotuma, Mulchrone (Bell), Cokanasiga, Brophy Clews, McKibbin (Steele), Hobbs-Awoyemi (Court), Paice (c) (Porecki), Hoskins (Chawatama), De Chaves (Lloyd), Sinclair, Coman (Gilsenan), Cowan, Treviranus.
Tries: Lewington x3, Tikoirotuma x2, Cowan x2, McKibbin x2, Hoskins, Brophy Clews, Bell
Cons: Tonks x7, Bell x4
ROTHERHAM: Thomas, Foley, Hayes, Owen (c), Henry (Barker), Ryan (Millar), Walsh (Tresidder), T. Williams (Cano), Cole (Socino), I. Williams (Herriott), Hicks (Oliver), Curry, Lawrence, Tyas, MacDonald.
Pens: Ryan
Referee: Simon Harding
Attendance:
