Bitterly disappointed after being toppled by the Titans at Camborne in October, the Pirates duly gained their revenge with this deserved win away in Yorkshire. The contest was as hard-fought and close as expected, but it was ultimately a job well done, with the win also seeing the Cornish side notch up a rung to sixth spot on the league ladder.

With the sun shining above, and there a sound surface below, it was the home team that came out of the blocks firing, with former 'Pirate' Nick Buckley a direct midfield force. Rotherham's skipper, fly-half Mike Whitehead, missed with a penalty attempt in the first minute, but made no mistake when a second chance was gifted him soon after.

When the Pirates started to find their feet, good play from fly-half Rhys Jones and centre Mark Ireland forced the Titans to now give a penalty away, which Jones calmly slotted to draw the scores level.

Rotherham went down to 14 men when prop Ben Prescott was red carded, it following a midfield incident involving a justifiably aggrieved Pirates hooker Rob Elloway, who had to depart proceedings with apparent facial injuries. Darren Dawidiuk entered the fray as his replacement, and Jones attempted to land the lengthy penalty kick on offer, which narrowly missed.

The Pirates would surely have every chance to benefit from numerical advantage, but it was not long before there was a 10 minute spell when it was 14-a-side after referee Mr. Knox yellow-carded prop Sam Heard. Whitehead stepped up to take a penalty to put his side back in front, but his somewhat easier attempt was also off target.

It was a day when scoring of tries was always likely on the menu, and for an hors d'oeuvre the first one concocted was a worthy score. Skipper Ben Gulliver did the base work, and when the ball was spun wide full-back Marika Vakacegu joined the line to cross for a try out wide which Jones did well to convert.

The Titans had their chance to hit back, with full-back Brad Hunt, and wings Jon Feeley and Errie Claassens always a threat, but the Pirates thankfully denied them.

Another Whitehead penalty pulled back three more points for his side shortly after Heard's return, but the Pirates then made their one man advantage count. Vakacegu, who is guaranteed to impress on the counter attack, did so once more, as he finished initial good work with his second converted try of the afternoon, and it one which also took his try tally to 11 in the 'stats' list

From the restart Buckley again looked to pierce the Pirates defence, and although he was wrapped up okay, a penalty was soon awarded which Whitehead kicked to make the scoreline 9-17 at the break.

The Pirates will have been mighty pleased to hold such a lead at half-time, with there every reason to have high hopes for the second forty. However, in the opening minutes of the second half an error let the Yorkshire side in for a try scored by Andy Barnes, which was converted by Whitehead.

With there understandable concerns that just a single point separated the sides, such feelings were then heightened as Scotsman Mr. Knox, who clearly does not shy away from searching for a card in his pockets, in quick succession now showed yellow to both Gulliver and flanker Iva Motusaga.

Apparent lacks of discipline had let the Pirates down. and the next 10 minutes would be a test as the Titans geared themselves to not waste a moment playing 14 against 13.

There was a chance to kick the points on offer when a penalty came their way, but the Titans took the scrummage option, which after a number of re-sets proved wise. The Pirates defended doggedly when called upon, but they were powerless when a penalty try was awarded Rotherham, converted by Whitehead, which now put the Clifton Lane side 23-17 up.

Gulliver and Motusaga's return to the field of play was a welcome sight, and it surely time for the Pirates to put self-made woes behind them. Almost immediately Gulliver made a vital contribution, as from a line-out at the corner close to Rotherham's line, the ball was transferred through the hands of scrum-half Ed Fairhurst to Dawidiuk whose burst took him over the line. Jones followed up with another beautifully struck conversion, and it one that also gave the Pirates back the lead, albeit by just one point.

Introducing fresh legs kept the Pirates lively, and it was hoped to go further ahead and in the process secure at least one more try required for a bonus point. There was a great deal of pride and purpose in the Pirates performance, with lock Heino Senekal contributing on his welcome return from injury, and flanker Blair Cowan impressing again in what was his first league start.

The Pirates also decided to go for the scrum option when a penalty was next awarded, them confident that they had the edge, and justifiably and rightly so. Motusaga, who was in fine form once again, scored the fourth try sought, but Jones missed the conversion which would have opened up an eight points cushion, it thus leaving absolutely no room for complacency.

It was clear that Rotherham re-galvanised their effort, with Whitehead calling the shots as the match built to a tense finale. Claassens was unlucky to have put a foot in touch, but it mattered not as Whitehead scampered over for a try shortly after. The conversion, if posted by replacement scrum-half Jonny West, would have put the Titans one point ahead, but to the relief of all Pirates, it missed.

As the seconds ticked away the Pirates suddenly registered their fifth try in the match, it scored by replacement Jimmy Moore, but again the conversion was off mark to thus add to the tension just a wee bit longer.

It was vital from the final restart that control was the order of the day, which was obeyed, with Fairhurst's kick for touch signalling the blow of the final whistle - and it a sound that provided quite considerable satisfaction.

Rotherham:
B. Hunt, J. Feeley, N. Buckley, C. Briers, E. Claassens
M. Whitehead (capt), C. Erskine (J. West 64), R. Burrows, T. Du Plessis, A. Barnes
G. Hayter, M. Challinor (A. O'Donnell 14) B. Prescott, N. Conroy, S. Corsar.

Replacements (not used): H. Horn, H. Tea, L. McGowan, J. Skurr, T. Allen.
Red card: Prescott.

Cornish Pirates:
M. Vakacegu, B. Tuohy (J. Moore 64), M. Ireland, T. Luke (S. Winn 58), P. Devlin
R. Jones, E. Fairhurst, M. Evans (C. Morgan 78), I. Motusaga, B. Cowan
B. Gulliver (capt), H. Senekal, S. Heard (Franklin 45), R. Elloway (D. Dawidiuk 12), P. Cook.

Replacements (not used): D. Seal, S. Raven.

Yellow cards: Heard, Gulliver, Motusaga.

Scorers:-:

Rotherham
Tries: Barnes, penalty try, Whitehead; cons: Whitehead (2); pens: Whitehead (3).

Cornish Pirates
Tries: Vakacegu (2), Dawidiuk, Motusaga, Moore; cons: Jones (3); pen: Jones.

Referee: G. Knox (RFU).