Silver Royd fans lap up cup action
With the pre-match hospitality and under-16s (who were admitted free of charge) included, the attendance was a terrific 1,200 at Scarborough RUFC.
A pre-match dinner was entertained by Sir Ian McGeechan and John Bentley, rugby legends both, while below on the main concourse in front of the JM Guthrie clubhouse the Carnegie shop and Scarborough Snack Shack did a roaring trade.
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Hide AdTo add to the atmosphere smoke from a busy barbecue stall rolled across the paddock.
Clear skies, a moonrise shortly before kick-off and the lights of Scarborough in the distance added to the sense of occasion.
Unfortunately the rugby on offer failed to live up to the occasion as pace and muscle appeared to be the preferred offensive ploy of both sides with guile in short supply.
However following chances at both ends, Rotherham flanker Alex Reider woke up the scoreboard operator, crossing near the posts on the half hour.
Fly-half James McKinney added the extras for a 7-0 lead.
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Hide AdEncouraged by that success, the Titans laid siege to the Carnegie line and sub Jack Preese went over from a rolling maul in the 36th minute; McInney converted for 14-0. The half ended with Carnegie fly-half Chris Georgiou slotting a penalty from the Rotherham 10-metre line to reduce the half-time arrears to 11 points at 14-3.
Half-time entertainment was provided by members of the Scarborough youth set-up playing touch rugby which was enthusiastically received by the crowd; then it was on with the second half of the game which was if anything less entertaining than the first with only three McKinney penalties for Rotherham.
A 23-3 win for the south Yorkshiremen was a fair reflection of the match but it was stodgy fare particularly from a well-beaten Yorkshire Carnegie side.
It was a terrific occasion well organized by the Scarborough club but the rugby on show won’t linger long in the memory.