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.

“We were down to 14 and then 13 men at one stage, but the way the players kept getting off the floor for each other was special to see.”