'That is the culmination of a lot of work': Rotherham Titans clinch promotion back to the Championship
EIGHT years after dropping out of the second tier, Rotherham Titans are back where they belong after clinching promotion in front of their adoring fans in the blazing sunshine at Clifton Lane.
Needing only a point either from a four-try bonus or a defeat by less than seven points against fourth-placed visitors Sale FC, the Titans held off the threat of second-placed Blackheath to win 34-26 and clinch the National One title.
It is their second promotion in three years after winning National Two North in 2023/24, the division this long-time second-tier club had bottomed out in.
But under Harvey Biljon the last two years they have only looked up and they clinched promotion on a dramatic day in front of a packed Clifton Lane.
They led 22-7 at the break and were just one try away from the promotion-clinching point. But that didn’t come until after Sale had scored twice to pull to within three points at 22-19.
Anxiety began to spread but Rotherham camped on the Sale line and after multiple recycles, the ball was spread wide to Jackson Barling who streaked over the line for his hat-trick and promotion-clinching try.
The score sparked jubilant scenes in the Shed stand and across the ground.
Biljon said: “That is the culmination of a lot of work over a fair period of time and credit to the playing group for sticking at it.
"I’ve thrown a fair bit at them and they’ve responded so it’s a very special thing to win silverware and to win a competition and the club can be really proud of itself this season.”