Successful fightback sees Titans take their share against Bedford

At the final whistle, two battling teams not only produced a draw – an unusual result in rugby – but also left the field with three points each, another improbable outcome.

With four tries each, a win for either side, would have been the likely result but that was not the case.

Bedford, one of the clubs who are strongly fancied to reach the promotion semi-finals again, must be analysing why they lost a match-winning position.

Rotherham put together an outstanding first-half display during which they scored two excellent tries by full-back Michael Whitehead and No 8 Alex Rieder, who proved to be a constant threat on his home debut.

The Titans led 18-13 at the interval having played with the kind of authority which enabled them to control position and territory.

Then an inexplicable loss of concentration and a lack of organisation in defence, combined with the surprising inability to apply themselves at the restart, switched the momentum back with Bedford.

The pace of winger Josh Bassett, last season’s top try scorer in the Championship, paved the way for Bedford’s recovery in the 42nd minute.

However, far worse was to come as Rotherham fell apart in a calamitous spell in which they let in 15 points in only seven minutes.

Bedford’s forwards established a decent position from which to score on Rotherham’s line and 
No 8 Don Barrell grabbed the opportunity to put his side ahead by one point at 25-24.

Astonishingly, Rotherham had not learned any lessons because only two minutes later, in the 59th minute, mediocre defence once again set up Bedford and the space for Bassett to exploit again.

His second try opened up a 
32-24 advantage to Bedford, and with 20 minutes remaining, it appeared that Rotherham would lose their first home match of the new season.

Prospects deteriorated further on 64 minutes as James Pritchard, Bedford’s Canadian international and one of the most accurate goal-kickers in the league, put over his third penalty increasing Bedford’s lead to 35-24.

From Rotherham’s point of view they can thank the skill, spirit and wholehearted commitments of their pack for the thrilling fightback deep into the second half.

Rotherham’s forwards, not least the replacements, smashed into their Bedford opposite numbers and steadily altered the outcome.

Centre and captain Lee Blackett, emerged from a pile of bodies to claim Rotherham’s third try on 72 minutes, and with Ulster fly-half James McKinney, who finished with 18 points (three conversions and four penalties) adding the conversion, the gap had been cut to 35-31.

As Rotherham’s forwards maintained the pressure during the tensest of climaxes, the Titans’ hopes of earning some league points rose sharply.

Scrums in Bedford’s line resulted in the Blues’ front row being destroyed – not once but on at least three occasions.

Bedford were buckling under severe pressure; the referee was losing patience and gave replacement prop Scott Spurling a yellow card.

Rotherham’s forwards, though, had not quite finished yet and soon produced another moment of glory.

Bedford now needed to reinforce the front row and sent on former Rotherham forward, hooker Neil Cochrane.

The move did not work. Bedford were penalised yet again, and on this occasion the referee had no option but to award Rotherham a penalty try.

So in the 84th minute, Rotherham had risen from the dead. They were only two points behind at 38-36.

The simple conversion in front of the posts by McKinney achieved the draw the Titans thoroughly deserved.

Later, Rotherham’s winning captain Blackett was naturally relieved, while equally proud of his team’s recovery.

“We are satisfied with the three points, but not happy because the boys played well enough to get five,” he said.

“It’s not good to concede 38 points at home, but nevertheless we attacked well to score 38 points.

“In the first half we were good, but, unfortunately, we were poor for the first 25 minutes of the second half.

“However, we were exceptional in the final 20 minutes although we still had to put together a complete performance.”

Rotherham Titans: Whitehead, Homan, Blackett, Nonu (Law 64), Sheridan, McKinney, Williams (Gill 60), Kilbane (Gadd 56), Baines, Davies (Gardiner 56), Patrick (Makaafi 64), Sanderson, Maddison, Kirwan, Rieder (Pitman 48).

Bedford Blues: Pritchard, Dodge, Burke (Vass 60), Staff, Bassett, Sharp, Baldwin (Veenendaal 64), Reeves (Seal 53), Cochrane (Spurling 65), Boulton (Cooper 56), Howard (Tupai 47), Gulliver, Gillanders, Harding, Barrell.

Referee: Llyr Ap Geraint Roberts.