In a week when I have discovered that Taylor Swift writes songs that resonate and talk to me, it’s like she understands just me and we share the same lifestyle, we have a pivotal fixture to end the season. We end as we start against the considerable pedigree of Rotherham, fellow centurions they look to march on to promotion with the green and white looking to seal a continued prescience in National 2 which will be a massive achievement. So its interest for each end of the table with I expect Leeds and Hull Ionians fans on the socials watching score develop plus I understand from good authority it may also impact on the local league structure with relegation bound local rivals on hold. In a nutshell after 7 months and 25 games both teams are in the hunt so its fully loaded squads and no going through the motions at Greenwood road.
In a genius and far sighted move Billingham windows have secured the game sponsorship giving a grandstand view and easy access to refreshments, plus a cast of legends and regulars to get the banter moving. It’s fantastic but I opt for a bench on the mount as usual so I can gather my thoughts, test my pen and look towards the heaving club house. Rotherham here in full force and in Hawaiian dress which livens up a very gray day, book em Danno.
It’s time to leave it all out there and empty the tanks so all the background notes are being brought into play which may make this report more random than it usually is. For those who read these reports, thanks to both of you and as the hidden words for this season draws to a close, brie the in and truckle in to an all action afternoon at Greenwood road, Billingham TS23 4BA.
Rotherham jog our first in light blue and maroon hoops followed by the white and green of the home side, lots of noise greets the teams giving an indication of a lively full house and the officials follow in the garish cheddar orange which we have come to love. The flags are a little bit non committal but a light breeze from the dugout across the stand side is present. Yes I can hear you Gail confirmation, as we become aware that Rotherham are placing coaches around the pitch with a prescience on the mount for a Gouda view. As the chili peppers fade the whistle goes and Titans kick off towards the club house, its 15:00 and game on.
It’s high to the stand side as Billingham collect and look to move out from deep, Rotherham eager to make a good start commit the first infringement allowing Peter Evans to send the ball into touch up the stand side and into Titans territory. Its Burns cleanly off the top as Billingham look to go wide and stretch the Rotherham line, a Matt Kirby delayed pass gets Jonny Horner into space. The full back does well as the last line of defence as Billingham look to support with Connor Foley bringing the support forward runners in. Its close but Titans hold firm and the ball is exchanged, the broken play giving Peter Evans a gap to ground the ball over the line. As Peter Evans strokes the ball between the sticks for 7 – 0 to the home side, the Rotherham team feedback is think and do your job, aided of course by the off-field coaching analysis.
We have seen this many times this season with the visiting coaching and “consultants” team being spread around the ground to provide feedback from every angle outside of the dugout/technical area. It always rankles as Danno cannot be in four places at one time, we don’t want everyone to know the Mount is best vantage point, it does highlight the deep pockets of some clubs and do a club with this level of professionalism really need to do it? I suppose it does illustrate that they do take it seriously and we get updates from Harvey on the hill throughout the match. Basically they like a Quattro formaggi (someone in every corner) where as we are a ham and pineapple sort of crowd (I expect letters).
Titans kick off and Burns collects as Billingham look to build on the strong start but knock on and compound it soon after with a breakdown infringement. It’s into the corner for the catch and drive which for Rotherham is a very efficient machine, ball retention is good and they twist and turn to get the legs moving. This one stalls and the ball is sent along the line and a loose pass goes to ground, its back for a penalty and the first frustration handbags appear. Rotherham go for the corner again and keep this drive up to motor in over the line, converted the teams go level 7 – 7 as the instructions from the mount continue.
Billingham kick high and chase but Titans collect and control well, the forwards eager to keep pounding with marginal gains and secure ball making steady progress. Titans switch out to the wing and have a gap, Joe Evans with a stretched hand to just get a boot and bring to ground. It moving around now as Rotherham develop a steady rhythm and have a really handy centre duo who cause problems all afternoon. It’s a knock on but it’s backwards as Rotherham retain but the cough it up in the next exchange. Billingham secure with a strong scrum and set across to the stand side, It’s a chip over the top to turn Rotherham around and unleash the wheels but the bounce is not kind allowing Rotherham to reset and send the forwards up the middle. Its switch to a tricky bouncer is nudged through which just evades the Rotherham chasers. Billingham opt to take a quick one to evade the Rotherham pack but Jonny runs into bodies and Peter E has nowhere to go, however Titans infringe to allow an exit. Tom Campbell is line out jumper and the ball is quickly pumped up the middle as field advantage and scrums are exchanged. It’s Rotherham with the next clear chance as it’s a show and go with the 12 through a gap at pace, they can’t cash in as it’s knocked on. Titans put the pressure on the scrum so it’s move the ball quick for Billingham as they look to exit. Peter pops a quick deep and it’s returned to touch as no one is taking any chances. It’s a string of Rotherham penalties starting with a no release at the breakdown as Billingham look to make inroads, a quick tap with no retreat plus some off the ball put Billingham close. A kick to touch allows the platform with Whinn cleanly taking and a switch to on rushing Ryan K puts him over the whitewash. The conversion crossed the posts rather than between but the home side get another for 12 -7.
Rotherham kick off, Nathan Myers retrieves and Peter sends a high one up the pitch which allows Rotherham time to set up. It’s down the stand side as the backs link with the second row on the wing, tackles slide off and a slight block or two give Rotherham sight of the line. They switch it across into space to finish at the other side. A wide conversion is curled in as the visitors reply quickly and get their nose ahead for the first time at 12 – 12.
Everyone is wondering what will be next in this see-saw encounter as we have an interlude as studs are tightened, it’s a breather anyway. Rotherham collect from the kick off but are soon pinged for not releasing, Peter gets pops into the corner as its Billingham’s turn to see what they can do. Burns off the top and Billingham look to drive but Rotherham counter well, its a few phases as the ball is switch to the centre of the pitch, Rotherham getting the tackles in. Its slower ball and Billingham look to switch with a long pass the ball is cleanly intercepted by the Rotherham second row and all you can see is his number as he goes the length of the pitch, for a big lad he glides down the pitch with ease. Converted Titans move to 12 – 19, was that the momentum shifter, as we know Uncle Mo can be fickle.
Billingham kick off and it’s a scrappy collection which results in the ball bouncing around as Billingham get pinged, Rotherham kick to touch but not that far. It’s an over throw at the line out with Ryan on hand to secure, the forwards look to develop the play and it’s a high tackle which Peter pops into the corner. The line out is loose and the ball is lost but Rotherham return it within a couple of plays and it’s a free ball for Billingham as the arm goes aloft again. Billingham set up from the line out, Edgy finding Tom C who is taken in the air, tap pen then Dan Dixon and James Watson strong carries before Tom C pops up again. Rotherham hold firm so it’s a little grubber through which Matt K grounds on the end of the in goal area. Conversion is good so we are all square again at 19 – 19 and that’s 3 tries in the bag for both teams.
Titans kick off and the evergreen Burns or should that be breadbasket Burns with the secure collection, Billingham deep in their own half opt to pump it up field and Rotherham test the dugout side. It’s about halfway as they go coast to coast and the 12 dummies to go through into clean air. It’s a scramble defence that is thoroughly tested as the Titans move the ball through hands, eventually it peters out but is brought back for a penalty and it’s into the corner. From the line out Billingham decide not to contest but the man in the middle see’s no obstruction so Rotherham walk in, plus converted from another tricky angle. So that is 4 tries for the visitors and a lead at 19 – 26.
The half ends with a high kick which Billingham retrieve then knock on, Rotherham get the upper hand in the scrum for a penalty, their kick doesn’t find touch but Elliot as he’s in the bottom corner decides that enough and the squads troop off to the changing room.
The Titans coaching staff depart from all corners to work on the finer details, it’s been a cracker of a half from both teams but looking at recent results Titans are formidable in the second so obviously all that analysis works. I expect that the socials are kicking off as related scores are reviewed, despite the games kicking off at the same time there seems some delay and the discussion about “development” squads being fielded elsewhere is engaged. Obviously if you can halve your wage bill before the end of the season then every little helps, I wonder what sort of win bonus some of the players are on? The teams trot out for the second half but I expect that some onlookers are still trying to get their mid game shandy as we stilton the mount and are joined by team Titan, nice trainers have gone as only boots are allowed on the AGP. It’s Rotherham up towards the mount and Billingham towards the club house for the second half and last action of the 2023-24 season, both centurion teams in the hunt what more could you want?
19 – 26 to the visitors as Billingham kick off and the balcony raises their voices for both squads, Rotherham secure sent the phases away. It’s all very tight as the defenses work over time to limit the options and clear space for the runners are minimal. Both teams opt for various different kicks to try to unlock advantageous field position or a break but despite tricky bounces they retrieve and clear well. Rotherham look to build a bit of momentum with willing runners and a few offloads, Billingham look to cover but the arm is aloft, Rotherham play the advantage to go close but no score so its back. The sticks are opted for and well into the second half the visitors move the scoreboard on, looking to nail that points tally at 19 -29.
Slowly Rotherham are stepping up the pace in posetion and suffocating the attack options, Billingham are definitely grafting to stay in touch, from the kick off Rotherham collect, move the ball quickly and kick over the top to put the pressure on again. Billingham counter well but static runners limit gains and there a little breaks, Whinn with a one handed juggle like a Lincolnshire poacher and Conner around the pitch trying to move it around. It’s Billingham into the corner following a high tackle but Rotherham seal off and then clear. Billingham stick at it, a further nudge through with runners bouncing into touch gives Rotherham a line out and its roles reversed as Billingham seal off and get the put in. A solid scrum, the elusive 4th try is within touching distance but Rotherham don’t allow a chance and its Billingham frustrated giving up a penalty and the 10 for comments. Its back to Rotherham now as Uncle Mo switches again and Billingham once again dig in. One line out it’s a Whinn hand that disrupts to allow the exit then a Titans overthrow and it’s a long pass out wide, Titans cover not allowing any space and then no release at the breakdown. Rotherham kick into the corner and their support at the mount end anticipate a chance, catch and drive countered by Billingham. It stays up but stops short so they ship the ball out along the line and the 12 finishes out wide. Unconverted the mount based communications highlight more changes in the search for further points. Kicks are exchanged form the restart with varying results, Titans knock on but from the scrum Titans close down the runners and it’s not releasing at the breakdown. Rotherham opt for the sticks, making up for the conversion the penalty sails over. Rotherham keep it ticking over, use some more time and move out to 19 – 37.
Billingham kick off and Rotherham return a long one with a winger chase, Peter calmly steps around the winger and lashes it up the wing. Rotherham line out is adjudged not straight and at the scrum its quickly out as Billingham look for a gap, Louis Groark picking on off his laces to keep the move going but Billingham knock on. Its then 3 in a row for Titans, adjudged not to be driving straight Billingham get a penalty. Its kick but not into touch so kick is returned Billingham keep ball in hand and man in the middle indicates high tackle. He must have had a word because the next one is yellow and Billingham go into the corner with the kick. It a catch and drive which Rotherham defend well, a couple of round the corners go close and there’s a bit of an off the ball, yellow shown. Billingham opt to tap and go, the forwards set up and go in round the corner, it all at the far end but the club house erupts but the man in the middle is not impressed. Looks like a held up indication as players and supporters all look at each other and the officials have a lengthy conflab. Its arm aloft to signal the try after consolation as at 72 minutes in the last game of the season Dan Dixon secures the 4th try bonus point and Billingham retain the National 2 status. Peter adds the extra’s for 26 – 37.
Obviously the home support erupts again but there’s still time, Rotherham are down to 13 and a Billingham try gives another bonus point, so again another twist as the dying embers of the season fade.
Rotherham re-organise and kick off, another secure by Burns and they move across the pitch and over to Jonny H, he is well shepherded and Titans then get over the ball to grab the penalty. It’s between the sticks to make sure as Rotherham go to 26 – 40, insurance policy in place the coaching team leaves the mount with our congratulations.
Peter attempts a flat kick off to a flying winger not sure if it went the full distance, anyway it’s back to the centre circle and the full time whistle sounds quite quickly as both squads plus supporters take a breath and start to celebrate. Fabulous scenes after as the cup is presented and both squads soak up the atmos, this lived up to the midweek hype and everyone is smiling like a Cheshire cat.
Good luck to Rotherham as they step up, it looks like they have the set up both on and off the pitch to hold their own plus talking to the visitors after the match it looks like they have the ambition and coaching vision to develop further. Promotion in their centenary season, does it get any better?
What an effort from the green and whites squad throughout this season, no if, buts or maybe’s this is a massive achievement, in the Centenary year too. They have taken the club into National 2, and with pretty much the same squad cemented it by securing a second season, history makers without a doubt. I’m sure there are battered bodies, possibly from the post match dancing if not the match to be dragged back to your full time jobs and studies on Monday but you’ve just gone toe to toe with a National 1 side to stay in the league.
Thanks to all the gym buddies, usual suspects, volunteers, club staff and general legends who provide the match report colour, it’s always fantastic to spend time with you, a real tonic. Just a reminder that the away busses for next year will be filling up fast, get your calendars out. #OSIOS
No time this season for Pre-match tension, clone Danno, math’s is not my strong point, Friday night allotment action, Matt’s on the fairway, team Hyndman, Radders Olympian?, marquee signing, jug of woo woo, deleted messages, how long till tour?, oxbow lakes, Rapid Horner, widespread disruption, the face of Toby carvery, No service through the back door, get your go forward, team lubrication and under 16’s disco moves.
“Our success has not been a continual series of victories. We have had a number of devastating setbacks; how these are handled is the making of a great team... winning does not happen in straight lines.”

Clive Woodward

An innocent bystander.