By Bifta on 25/09/2003
September 25 2003

Two games played, two defeats - a situation Rotherham fans might have been almost expecting, and that Leeds fans must have feared would be the case in the absence of so many battle-hardened players.

Rotherham, unfairly constrained in their close season recruitment by the delays over their elevation to the ZP, look to be short of the players who can really make a sustained impact at this level. Leeds on the other hand have plenty of them, but with half on the way to Australia, or on the physio's couch, the side is struggling to gel, although observers suggested there were promising signs in the defeat at Wasps.

Last season, this game might have been an attritional forwards battle, with the Leeds pack expected to exact a gradual domination over the Rotherham 8. This season, it may be that Roth, who shunted the formidable Gloucester pack around their home turf, have an advantage in the forwards. Leeds however have a clear superiority in the backs, which Rotherham will need to blanket if they are to take a famous victory.

But the picture is, I think, wider than simply a game of rugby.

This is an opportunity for fans of rugby in Yorkshire to show our value, and the value of our two professional, Premiership sides. Rotherham are everybody's favourites for the drop, have been written off as no-hopers, and are perceived as uncouth and unwelcome. Leeds, still stuck with the "morally relegated" tag, are the side that many would like to see disappear down the National One trapdoor as well.

Premiership clubs and owners are practising a false morality. On the one hand, promotion and relegation is granted, allowing a condescending "We've given you a chance" mentality. On the other hand, Leeds and Rotherham are given crumbs from the rich man's table, supported to the tune of over half a million pounds less than the other Premiership clubs until 2006/07. It's a little like the Monty Python gag - your freedom will be granted if you run round the city walls five times while playing a bugle, but only after having your feet and legs chopped off.

Make no mistake, Leeds and Rotherham are the poor relations, and we will very much stay that way.

So Friday night, in what will surely be a tremendous atmosphere, is our opportunity to say - "Here we are, and here we deserve to stay.". Yorkshire deserves to have two Premiership clubs - two equally funded clubs with the rest of the league. We deserve it because it's morally bankrupt to do it any other way.

So, while I want Leeds to win on Friday, I want Rotherham to win as well. I want both clubs to be winners. I want to salute the Rotherham players and fans, and ours, for giving the rest of the game a right royal two fingers. The game that claims to have our best interests at heart, then hands out funding on an unfair basis. The game that doesn't like us uncultured Yorkies.

On Friday, it's not Leeds, or Rotherham, we're singing for. It's Yorkshire. It's a level playing field. It's an even chance.

Sing up!

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