Otley fail to spoil the Rotherham party (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Otley fail to spoil the Rotherham party

7:05pm Sunday 26th April 2009 in

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Otley 7 Rotherham Titans 39

Needing just one point to ensure they did not join their hosts in the five-team relegation exit, whatever happened elsewhere, Rotherham went the whole hog, securing the full five points.

And the celebration on a sunlit pitch with their hundreds of supporters at the end of the game was akin to having won the championship.

Caught offside, Otley were pushed back to their 22 and quick transfer saw Jon Feeley on the opposite wing dive over, fly half Mike Whitehead embarking on a succession of successful kicks.

Both sides were making use of the fine conditions but it was the Titans who made the breakthrough when centre Errie Claasens, given a slight opening, powered through to the line on 20 minutes.

Though Otley continued to attack, their role was mainly defensive, England under-20 No 7 Jacob Rowan bringing off a superb tackle when No 7 Ryan Burrows broke from a scrum on the 22.

It looked like a 14-point deficit at the break but right on 40 minutes Otley conceded a penalty on their 22 and then another penalty at a scrum, which allowed Whitehead to tack on a further six points.

Gaining a scrum under the Otley posts at the start of the second half, Rotherham were awarded a penalty and, after taking a tap from the wrong place, chose to take a scrum which erupted, causing the referee to award a penalty try. With his back turned, a scrap ensued, ending with yellow cards for veteran props Kris Fulman and Stuart Corsar.

Titans added a couple more tries, a second for Claasens and one for full back Brad Hunt, but Otley had the last word when a chip ahead found touch near their line and a quick throw-in to Steve Parsons gave the winger a 100-metre sprint, which he accomplished with aplomb, fly half Adam Greendale adding the conversion.