Absentees tell as Rotherham Titans lose to Wharfedale

Matt Challinor tries to get Rotherham moving against Wharfedale. Picture by KERRIE BEDDOWS

ROTHERHAM Titans’ long wait for a home game ended with a Yorkshire derby defeat to Wharfedale in a match between two depleted teams.

Both were down on strength in a fixture which was originally frozen off a fortnight ago and quickly rearranged.

Playing at Clifton Lane for the first time in nine weeks, Titans could have few complaints with their 27-20 loss as the visitors proved to have greater strength in reserve.

Although Rotherham scored first with a good try when Connor Dever, Jack Taylor and Sam Veall combined to free Lloyd Hayes to score, Wharfedale recovered to lead 13-5 at half time.

They never relinquished the lead despite Titans keeping in touch in the second half with tries from wing Luckas Sableman-Blue and back-row Aydan Godden, who joined the club on a short-term loan this week.

It was the first home game for Rotherham’s new head coach, Gary Pearce.

He said: “We were down to the bare bones and it was an opportunity for lads to step up.

“The problem we have is that with us having one team, our lads who don’t play regularly haven’t played in a long time whereas the lads who stepped in for Wharfedale play every week in their second team.

“We can’t make excuses and to be fair the scoreline flattered us a bit. We made too many errors.

“I’d say we’re too individual at the minute, not a team, and I think that’s been in evidence while I’ve been here really.

“Were not going to change that overnight and now we move on to next week.”

Rotherham stay sixth in National Two North ahead of two more home Saturdays against third-placed Hull Ionians next weekend and then the new leaders, Sedgley Park, after Fylde slipped up at Otley.