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Brave Titans end the wait for derby glory
Rotherham Titans 11 Doncaster Knights 7
Today South Yorkshire's top rugby union clubs, who took part in an excellent Championship derby on Saturday, switch their attention to preparing for next weekend's contests in the British and Irish Cup.
Rotherham, whose victory at Clifton Lane followed seven consecutive league defeats to their rivals, take on Birmingham and Solihull and will put out a side totally different from the one which revealed outstanding character to overcome Doncaster.
The Knights, meanwhile, surprisingly off colour in such an important match in which their pack was outplayed, face Scottish opponents Ayr at Castle Park.
While the Championship is far more important than this new competition, Doncaster have an early opportunity to recover from their poor performance at Clifton Lane where they made so many mistakes.
Their coach, Lyn Howells, said: "We made more errors against Rotherham than we did in our last six matches together. The better side won."
Considering that Doncaster had won their last four Championship games, Rotherham's victory is all the more creditable.
Bearing in mind the vigour and the fighting qualities shown by their forwards, there is no reason why the Titans cannot improve their league position and escape from the relegation zone.
Leading 11-0 at the interval after controlling the first half following a fine try by forward Gregor Hayter and two penalties from fly-half Jonny West, Rotherham survived a tense finale when Doncaster's forwards threatened.
Rotherham were cut to 14 men after a yellow card against prop Anton O'Donnell on 68 minutes, and on 79 minutes, precisely when Rotherham needed to be at full strength as Doncaster were only 11-7 behind, centre Petaia Gidlow was sent off.
Rotherham, battling to stay alive, were in some trouble after Doncaster were awarded a penalty try, a score that put them only four points adrift after the conversion on 70 minutes.
In the climax to a close contest, Rotherham's pack rose to the challenge and expertly kept the ball. Doncaster, frustrated by their mediocre display, were deprived of possession and unable to launch any raids which could snatch a late win.
Rotherham's victory, was their first against Doncaster since November 2005.
"It was an outstanding peformance. We dogged it out," explained Titans prop Ben Prescott. "In a derby game at home against Doncaster, you raise your game. We had to keep going and going in the last 10 minutes. We turned over their ball and that won it.
"Doncaster have put in a lot of money and people say they have edged away from us. This performance proves otherwise.
"It's not about the amount of money you spend, it is inside the ticker that counts."
Doncaster's defeat hury the five former Rotherham players in their squad, none more so than flanker Neil Cochrane.
"If you can't win your own ball then you can't play any rugby," he said.
Titans: Whitehead, Feeley, Farmer, Buckley, Swatkins, West, Chivers, Quigley, Conroy, Prescott, Challinor, Hayter, Swindall, Barnes, Dickinson. Replacements: O'Donnell, Jenkins, Kilbane, Burrows, Henderson, Gidlow, Rhodes.
Knights: McColl, Williams, Tonga'uiha, Armitage, Flockhart, Warnock, Hallam, Corsar, Boden, Tau, Griffiths, Kenworthy, Kettle, Grainger, Planchant. Replace-ments: Cusack, Lawrie, Davies, Townson, Briers, D'Arcy, Cochrane.
Referee: A Hartwell (RFU).
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Weather for Sheffield
Thursday 09 February 2012
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