HANDLING errors from the first half came back to haunt the Cornish Pirates as they fell just short of victory at the Mennaye on Sunday.

Rotherham completed their sixth successive victory against the Penzance-based side with the final score reading 26-24.

The Titans found themselves 20 points to the good with half-an-hour left on the clock, but a valiant fightback from the Pirates sparked by several replacements coming on set up a tense final few minutes.

Alas for the home side they failed to bridge the gap fully and will reflect on a hatful of knock-ons in the opening 40 minutes as the key to their defeat.

After the game, Pirates director of rugby Ian Davies admitted if his side had pulled a victory away from Rotherham’s grasp, then it would not have been deserved.

Davies said: “In the first half we were really, really poor and to be honest we weren’t great in the warm-up and that showed with the nine knock-ons we gave away in the first half, which cost us.

“We could have snatched it near the end and it would have been a total injustice to Rotherham, but at least the last 20 minutes from us were good.”

Jordan Davies' try and penalty had a shot at goal added to by fly-half Will Goodwin in the first half to give Rotherham a 13-0 lead at the break and when Joe Barker ducked in from inches out with 49 minutes gone, they were 23-3 up.

In the first half, the ball seemed to be more like a bar of wet soap for the Pirates as promising moves were killed off by handling errors, resulting in turnovers every time they reached the Titans' half.

Several of these came after crunching hits from Titans defenders, causing the ball to spill out, but even this could have been avoided as the basics of rugby appeared to be ignored by the Pirates.

The only bright spark to reflect on for the hosts was the form of full-back Toby May, who looked the most assured on the ball, including five great catches under pressure from high kicks.

However, the changes were rung after going 20 points behind and prompted a spirited effort with tries from stand-in skipper Alex Cheesman, replacement flanker John Stevens and right at the death Tom Riley.

All three tries came from moves which saw the Pirates chip away at the Titans’ defence, recycling the ball well, before finally dotting down.

During the build-up to Riley’s try, twice the Pirates were left wishing for better luck as referee Luke Pearce judged the ball was held up in the Rotherham goal area, leaving all the hard work unrewarded.

Goodwin had kicked another penalty amongst the fightback and the Pirates were left hoping there was enough time for another stab at the posts after Riley’s score, with injury time now well eaten into.

They did manage to break back into the away half, but hopes of a dramatic victory were dashed as Cheesman was pushed out into touch and moments later the final whistle blew.

PIRATES: 15 May, 14 Moyle, 13 Riley, 12 James, 11 Holland (Arnott 60), 10 Hallett (Cargill 53), 9 Day (Pope 53); 1 J Andrew (Jamieson 80), 2 Elloway (Channon 60), 3 Jamieson (Walker 60), 4 McGlone, 5 Garratt (Graulich 53), 6 Simmonds, 7 Atkinson (Stevens 60), 8 Cheesman (c).

TRIES: Cheesman (56), Stevens (61), Riley (80).

CONS: Cargill 3/3.

PEN: Hallett (44).

ROTHERHAM: 15 Scanlon, 14 Hayes, 13 J Davies, 12 Barker (A Davies 66), 11 Wilson, 10 Goodwin (Owen 62), 9 White; 1 Williams (Hislop 55), 2 C Maddison (Harris 55), 3 Tampin (Thiede 71), 4 Oram (Holmes 62), 5 B Maddison, 6 Argyle, 7 Birch (Calladine 62), 8 Cree.

TRIES: J Davies (26), Barker (49)

CONS: Goodwin 2/2.

PENS: Goodwin (10, 46, 59), J Davies (18).

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Toby May.