This was a game where the Cornish Pirates mission was three-fold – to aim for a bonus point win which would surely guarantee them a place in the promotion play-offs, to cast aside the frustration of drawing with the Bees the previous weekend, and to also gain revenge for having been beaten 29-20 by the Titans at their Clifton Lane ground last October.

So, what was the outcome? Well, in simple terms, there was success on all fronts, although credit was also due the Titans for their effort in recovering from being 22-0 down with there just 18 minutes on the clock.

For the second week running this match was played on a surprisingly fine January day, and with the ground itself just a little firmer than the previous Sunday.

To match the conditions the Pirates got off to a perfect start with there just a minute on the clock. Entering Rotherham's '22', lock Ben Gulliver joined play and slipped a deft pass, enabling fly-half Jonny Bentley to run and step back inside for a try scored to the left of the posts. Full-back Rob Cook added the conversion.

The Titans, with skipper and fly-half Mike Whitehead directing play, looked for an immediate response, but without making any breakthrough, and when the Pirates made inroads back into Titans territory the visitors gave a penalty away which Cook slotted well from some 43 metres out.

In no time at all the Pirates were on the front foot once more, props Rudi Brits and Alan Paver making the hard yards. Platform set, the ball was then moved with precision to the right, for centre Paul Devlin to provide a scoring passing to Richard Bright. Diving in at the scoreboard corner, it was the winger's first try for the Pirates in the Championship.

It was clear that the Pirates were in a mood to impress and to totally banish the disappointment of drawing with Birmingham & Solihull, as individually and collectively performance levels were upped.

Attempting to stem the tide, a tackle by Rotherham's prop Ben Prescott set the example needed, but it was surely just a matter of time before the Titans defence would be breached once more. Indeed, in only the eighteenth minute Cornish Pirates skipper and scrum-half Gavin Cattle made a telling run to the Titans line, and to a position from where scrum time followed. Then, for the second week running, the Pirates were without hesitation awarded a penalty try, this time by Mr. Rob Debney, who was another experienced Premiership referee making a welcome visit to Camborne. Cook added the extras and the scoreboard showed that the Pirates were, impressively, 22-0 up.

Playing their third game in a week, having beaten the Bees 42-15 on a rearranged game played on Wednesday evening, the Titans appeared well and truly under the cosh. They were not, however, down and out, and would now respond admirably. Former Redruth centre 'PJ' Gidlow made a strong midfield carry, and then, following a second catch and drive on the right, prop Nigel Conroy forced his way over the line for a try well converted by Whitehead.

There were definite signs that the visitors were finding their feet, and after wings Peter Swatkins and Jon Feeley were brought into play, the latter ran in with ease for an unconverted try.

The Pirates had been reminded that their afternoon's work was far from over, them thankfully rallying to conjure up an important bonus point providing fourth try, scored with determination by Devlin, and duly converted by Cook.

It appeared that the Pirates would hold a healthy lead come the interval, but once again the Titans showed their resolve by responding on the stroke of half-time with an unconverted try scored by experienced No. 8 Jon Skurr, to make it 29-17

When the second forty began the Pirates immediately posted a position to the left, only for Titan pack power to force them back upfield.

Home supporters were now understandably edgy, their nervousness reflected in their team who now gave away a number of penalties, and after threatening runs by Rotherham's scrum-half Matthew Rhodes and former Ireland centre Kevin Maggs, Alan Paver was yellow-carded.

The Pirates were penned deep in the clubhouse corner of the ground for a lengthy period, the pressure ultimately and thankfully eased when industrious No. 8 Blair Cowan took the ball off the back of a scrum and fed the ball to Cattle who nudged the Pirates back into the Titans half.

The relief, however, was only temporary, as playing with maintained confidence the Titans soon hit back again. Building their play steadily, replacement fly-half Tom Allen then suddenly stepped and sprinted for a score at the posts, converted by Rhodes.

With four minutes left on the clock and the scoreline reading 29-24, it was essential that the Pirates secured possession from the restart, which they did, their pack keeping it suitably tight and driving their opponents 20 metres to the line.

They had, quite rightly, not the slightest thought of releasing it wide, and captain Cattle knew, from the moment he then kicked the ball off the park, that the game was won – and that their three-fold aims had been achieved.

Cornish Pirates:
R. Cook, R. Bright (R. Storer 60-73), P. Devlin, M. Ireland (S. Winn 71), N. Jackson
J. Bentley, G. Cattle (capt), B. Cowan, S. Betty, C. Morgan
B. Gulliver, L. McGlone (S. Pammenter 73), R. Brits (R. Storer 73),
R. Elloway (D. Ward 71), A. Paver.

Replacements (not used): P. Andrew, M. Evans, J. Doherty

Yellow card: A. Paver.

Rotherham Titans:
B. Hunt, J. Feeley, K. Maggs, P. Gidlow, P. Swatkins
M. Whitehead (capt, T. Allen 50), M. Rhodes, J. Skurr (M. Challinor 73), A. Kleeberger, S. Swindall (R. Burrows 50)
G. Hayter, S. Dickinson (A. Barnes 06), B. Prescott (A. O'Donnell 34), R. Batty (J. Kilbane 45)N. Conroy.

Replacement (not used): N. Chivers.

Scorers:-

Cornish Pirates
Tries: Bentley, Bright, Devlin, penalty try
Cons: Cook (3)
Pen: Cook.

Rotherham Titans
Tries: Conroy, Feeley, Skurr, Allen
Cons: Whitehead, Rhodes.

Referee: Rob Debney (RFU)
Assistants: Nigel Higginson & Luke Pearce

Man of the match: Rudi Brits.

Attendance: 2,459.