Rotherham Titans hold off Otley to win Yorkshire derby

Titans skipper and man of the match Zak Poole on the attack in Saturday's win. Picture by DAVE POUCHER

ROTHERHAM Titans blasted off the rust to beat Yorkshire rivals Otley and complete back to back home wins.

Playing their first game since beating Sheffield RUFC at Clifton Lane three weeks ago, Titans pulled out a 22-0 by the early stages of the second half and then withstood a stirring comeback from their fourth-placed visitors to win 28-21.

Head coach Gary Pearce said: "We were ring rusty and that's why we didn't take our chances in the first half. In fairness we should have been out of sight at half time but it's still four tries and five league points for us. You don't get any more if you score another 30 points."

Tries from Danny Rylance, the impressive Zak Poole and Jack Taylor, plus a conversion from Lloyd Hayes, had Titans 17-0 up at the break.

Tomasi Tanumi went in at the corner for the fourth try soon after the restart but even though the visitors clawed their way back with two quick converted tries and later added a third, a couple of Hayes penalties kept Titans out of harm's way and then some good defence saw them home to victory.

"It's just good to get a game in and I'm sure we'll be better for it," added Pearce.

Titans remain sixth in National Two North, five points behind fifth-placed Chester, the destination for a tussle on their 4G pitch on Saturday (3pm KO).