Rotherham Titans get new season off to a flier in Yorkshire derby

Centre and man of the match Lloyd Hayes contributed 32 points in the 67-15 victory from two tries, two penalties and eight conversions.

A good sized crowd at Clifton Lane also saw newcomers Jack Taylor, Jack Hedley, Louis Inman and Kai Ramrattan get on the try sheet along with scrum-half Sam Boxhall, skipper Zak Poole and the returning Gareth Denman.

Six of the scores came in a first half in which Titans played some scintillating rugby to run up a 46-3 advantage.

Substitutious disrupted their rhythm in the second half and they conceded two tries to a rejuvenated Harrogate before re-grouping for a strong finish.

It was just the start head coach Adam Byron wanted as Rotherham look to improve on last season's third-placed finish in National Two North to win promotion back to National One. They were the division's highest scorers of the day.

He said: "We had the foundation of a good pack and a good set piece and when the opportunities came we took them well. Lloyd was different class and there were lots of other good performances.

"If you'd had said before the game I could have 67-15 I'd have snapped your hand off."

With their first five league points banked, Rotherham will chase more away to Hull Ionians next Saturday.