National Division 1

22nd April 2007

Headingley Carnegie

Leeds 29

Titans 32

Earth Titans

15 Andrew Turnbull, 14 Tom Allen (Tuohy 46), 13 Showan Smith (Stewart 74), 12 Bernard Hennessey, 11 Errie Claassens, 10 Gareth Steenson, 9 Joe Bedford (Capt), 1 Sam Walsh, 2 Nigel Conroy (Conroy 66), 3 Adam Hopcroft, 4 Erik Lund, 5 Louie McGowan, 6 Hendre Fourie, 7 Jannie Bornman, 8 Neil Cochrane,.

Replacements: 16 Steve Croall, 17 Gareth McComb, 18 Neil Hanna, 19 Jon Buchanan, 20 Michael Kirkwood, 21 Brian Tuohy, 22 Shane Stewart.

Leeds Tykes

15 Leigh Hinton, 14 Richard Welding, 13 Jonny Hepworth, 12 Andre Snyman, 11 Tom Biggs, 10 Richard Vasey, 9 Jacob Rauluni, 1 Mike McDonald, 2 Rob Rawlinson, 3 Colin Noon, 4. Stuart Hooper (Capt), 5 Kearnan Myall, 6 Jon Dunbar, 7 Martin Schusterman, 8 Rhys Oakley.

Replacements: 16 Danny Paul, 17 James Parkes, 18 Pelu Taele, 19 Mark Lock, 20 Mike Aspinall, 21 Andy Tuilagi, 22 John Holtby.

Five penalties, two conversions and a sublime drop goal, coupled with some outstanding place kicking from hand, saw Gareth Steenson steal the show for the visitors. Earlier tries from Errie Claassens and the bulldozing Eric Lund kept the hosts on the back foot.

However it had been Leeds who had started far the brighter and the early signs did not look promising for Rotherham. Especially on four minutes when a well worked Leeds move culminated with Jon Dunbar touching down in the corner for an unconverted try.

What promised to be an explosive Yorkshire derby erupted on nine minutes when the majority of the players all piled in after a late challenge. Referee Martin Fox could possibly have yellow carded up to six players; ultimately it was the two number five’s that earned a ten minute break.

Five minutes later and with Roth starting to get a foothold into the game, Gareth Steenson slotted over a straightforward penalty to reduce the arrears.

As the first quarter drew to a close Errie Claassens picked up the ball in midfield and proceeded to race forward before kicking over the top. Leeds full back Leigh Hinton made a mess of trying to collect the ball inside his own twenty two and before he knew what was happening, Claassens pounced to collect and score under the posts.

As the half wore on both sides had opportunities to score tries, but poor decision making and poor application meant that was not to be. However, deep into first half injury time Rotherham’s Jannie Bornman was penalised for a high tackle on Tykes Richard Vasey. Up stepped Hinton to score with the last kick of the half to send the hosts in with a slender 11-10 advantage.

The first ten minutes of the second half saw Hinton and Steenson trade penalties, the latter scoring two to Hinton’s one as Roth opened up a 16-14 lead.

Better was to come for the Titans when on 54 minutes the impressive Lund bulldozed over near the corner from around 8 metres out with what seemed half the Leeds side hanging off him. Steenson’s conversion from the touchline was remarkable.

On the hour mark Roth extended their lead to 26-14 when the reliable Steenson slotted over a regulation penalty kick after Leeds had entered a maul from the side in front of their posts.

The Champions however were not about to lie down without a fight in this pride of Yorkshire derby. Three minutes later from a catch and drive move 15 metres from the Roth line, loose head prop Mike Macdonald was driven over by his pack of forwards. Hinton made the conversion from almost in front of the posts to narrow the gap to 21-26.

The match had now really developed into a full-blooded derby and you felt it could still go either way. Fifteen minutes from time and once again Steenson stepped up to the plate to strike an exquisite penalty straight through the middle from 45 metres with the angle.

Once again Leeds bounced back, this time full back Leigh Hinton was on the end of some intense Leeds pressure to touch down in the near right corner. Unfortunately for him he couldn’t convert his own try and the host trailed by three points with just six minutes remaining.

The old cliché about cutting the atmosphere with a knife was never truer in this enthralling contest. With just three minutes remaining Rotherham were penalised for not rolling away in the tackle. From bang on 40 metres out and in front of the Rotherham posts, Hinton maintained his composure as he neatly converted to level the scores at 29-29.

A draw would have left Rotherham feeling they had let the Champions off the hook. But they needn’t have concerned themselves with such thoughts. As the 80 minutes mark rapidly approached, the ball was spun out to Steenson. He was positioned 40 metres out in central midfield.

As the ball arrived with the young Irishman, he had one thought in his mind. He proceeded to strike the sweetest drop goal you are ever likely to see. The large traveling Rotherham contingent erupted as the ball sailed through the middle of the Leeds posts.

On full time the Rotherham players celebrated as if it was they who were about to embark on the Premiership journey.

Final Score: Leeds 29-32 Rotherham

Words cannot fully describe the passion, pride, commitment and bloody hard work that this group of players have shown and given on behalf of Rotherham Rugby Club throughout the season.

Andre Bester has worked almost miracles with this group and all of them should be very proud of what they have achieved together. I know most, if not all of the Rotherham faithful certainly are.

A last word for the boy Steenson, is there a better place kicker in the UK? Maybe, but oh how he’ll be missed!

Post match reaction to follow.

Attendance: 7105

Other Weekend Results

Sat 21 April 2007

Bedford 30-13 Plymouth Albion
Doncaster 68-15 Waterloo
Exeter 46-24 Otley
Moseley 21-23 London Welsh
Sedgley Park 47-45 Newbury

Sun 22 April 2007

Cornish Pirates 55-14 Pertemps Bees
Nottingham 54-0 Coventry
 

National Division 1

Newbury v Rotherham - 28 April at Monks Lane.

kick off 3.00pm