By Ian Birks
November 23 2003

A thinly spread out 2,900 supporters spent their World Cup Saturday evening at Rotherham’s new ground, Millmoor. Those who turned up to watch the match saw an impressive display from the Titans who ran out and took the game to the visiting Tigers.

The first incident of the game saw Stewart Campbell accidentally felled after only nine minutes when a knock to the head resulted in him being escorted from the field. The first and best try of the day came from Rotherham centre Mike Umaga who opened the Titan’s account after 26 minutes. The Samoan took the ball at speed 5 metres out and dived over the line to take the score to 5-0.

Leicester then turn up the pressure and Daryl Gibson stepped out of a couple of tackles, passed to Jim Richards who went over only to have his ‘try’ held up by the Rotherham defence.
All of the remaining points of the first half came from Ramiro Pez, who first kicked a penalty in the 33rd minute, then converted his own try on the stroke of half time. The Tigers went in 5-10 up, but it was the Titans who had played all of the attacking rugby.

The second half started badly for the home side when Dan Lyle scored in the first minute, Pez converted and the Titans were suddenly 12 points down at 5-17. Those who visited Rotherham in their previous incarnation at Clifton Lane will know that they just do not stop playing, and so it was on this occasion. Inspired, possibly, by the Aussies try earlier that day, Jones put up a cross field kick for Elliott to catch and score. The conversion was missed and the score remained at 10-17.

The third try Tigers came from Healey who managed to chase and touch down his own kick through just before the ball went dead. With Pez’s conversion, the score looked to be an unassailable 10-24, but Rotherham had other ideas!

Elliott hacked through from a loose Tiger’s pass for Rotherham to chase, only to be held back illegally. Mr. Goodliffe had no second thoughts in awarding a penalty try which was easily converted by Jon Benson. After 70 minutes with the score at 17-24, Rotherham were in with a chance of a well deserved losing bonus point to open their premiership account.

The Titans dreams were then dashed by Rotherham old-boy, Ramiro Pez who kicked a long range penalty 6 minutes from time giving the Tigers a 10 point cushion. Before the final whistle, the visitors were denied for a second time that afternoon when Healey was held up over the line, also denying Leicester the try bonus point for four tries.

A last gasp drop goal from Rotherham to try to claw back the deficit to 7 points for the losing bonus point actually hit the corner flag, and so it ended Titans 17 – Tigers 27.

Rotherham have now played 10 games in the premiership without a single point. As with their previous season in the top flight, the first win is proving elusive, but rest assured, based on this performance, Rotherham are going to take a premiership scalp, it is only a matter of time.

As for Leicester, this was their first away win in the Zurich Premiership since beating Bath 8-15 at the Recreation Ground back in February! The much needed points take Tigers to 9th position, but a performance of this standard from Leicester will not be good enough to take Saints at The Gardens in our next ZP away fixture in December.