Okafor at the death has Tykes stunned!

ROTHERHAM Titans threw the promotion race wide open by inflicting a first defeat of the season on Leeds Tykes in a tense Yorkshire derby yesterday afternoon.

- DAVID BEDDOWS

A crowd of more than 1,000 at Clifton Lane saw Titans survive a nail-biting finish to preserve their 13-month unbeaten home record and pull within two points of their visitors with three games left to play.

Leading 27-12 heading into the final quarter, Rotherham saw their lead whittled back to a point by the resurgent visitors, before a breakaway try by John Okafor sealed the deal.

"What stood out the most was the character and heart we showed," said Titans rugby consultant Harvey Biljon.