Rotherham 29 Moseley 33: Titans fail in bid to mark West's exit with home win

West had handed in his notice just 24 hours earlier, meaning Rotherham will next week start their search for a new man at the helm for next season.

The former Titans flanker, who played over 100 games for the club, offered his resignation knowing that the Rotherham board, unhappy about being in the relegation fight, were expected to look for a new man in charge.

West, who will stay in charge until after the final game at Coventry a week on Saturday, said: "It was a difficult decision, but one I think I had to make. It has been hard at times at Rotherham, but I think we've done as well as we could. I wish them every success in future."

West did not bow out as he had hoped on a dramatic afternoon, Moseley grabbing five points to haul themselves off the foot of the mini-league – just as Rotherham looked to have done enough to take the win after a battling fightback. It means the safety fight for the other teams in the group will go right to the wire in a fortnight's time.

In a see-saw game, Titans were guilty of a dreadful start as the Birmingham club got off to a flier, leading 23-0 in 22 minutes.

Fly-half Tristan Roberts kicked a penalty to set the ball rolling and Andy Reay then breezed in from five metres after a terrific break by Michael Gillick. Roberts tagged on the extras and then kicked another penalty to put his side 13-0 up before Rotherham had even broken sweat.

It went from bad to worse as Roberts added another three points and then full-back Nathan Bressington notched Moseley's second try after good line-breaking work from Roberts and Gillick.

Titans looked down and out, but when they scored from their first real punch at the visitors' line – Matt Challinor barging through after Adam Kleeberger's break – it started a terrific fightback.

Eight minutes from the break, Challinor scored again from close range after Ryan Burrows had bludgeoned his way through several tackles, Mike Whitehead's conversion making it 23-12.

After the interval, Whitehead – also saying his farewells after signing for Esher – sped through to score his side's third try, throwing a sweet dummy after Neil Chivers had prised open the cover.

And when Ross Batty broke through for Rotherham's fourth touch-down after 51 minutes to put the Lane men 24-23 ahead it looked all over, with Moseley seemingly a spent force.

It looked even worse for the Midlanders when Roberts spurned two kickable penalties in front of the posts but they found an extra breath to push for the line, knowing that defeat would leave them rooted to the bottom if the table.

The pressure paid off as Alistair Muldowney got the vital touch to a drive to put Moseley 28-24 in front and seven minutes from time prop Robert Harden scored after a similar move, with Titans running out of steam and unable to clear their lines.

There was still time for Rotherham to hit back as play switched to the other end, this time Ryan Burrows crashing over after one final push, but the visitors held on for a priceless win and could have added a further try but replacement Dan Oselton was held up by the home defence.

Said two-try Matt Challinor: "We wanted to finish with a win, especially with it being Westy's last game at home and in front of a big crowd.

"But they fought really well, especially at the start when we were a bit sluggish, but at least we did fight back well and perhaps we should have done enough to have won it. Maybe all the news about the change of coach affected our preparation."

Rotherham Titans: Henderson; Feeley, Maggs, Buckley (Allen 69), Swatkins (Stimpson 70); Whitehead, Chivers (West 73); Voisey, Conroy (Batty 40), O'Donnell (Prescott 40), Challinor, Barnes (Hayter 52), Kleeberger (Swindall 70), Du Plessis, Burrows.

Moseley: Bressington; Thirlby, MacBurnie, Reay (Keys 71), Gillick; Roberts, Gasson, Williams, Caves (Oselton 69), Harden, Muldowney, Stott, Mason (Wilson 63), Pennycock, Rodwell. Not used: Davis, Taylor, Read, Hall.

Referee: R Kitt (RFU).