IN THE end common sense prevailed last weekend and as much as there was, possibly, a tiny part in the mind of the Rotherham coach that wanted the Pirates to endure a long slog on a bus before finding out that the game was off, it didn't happen.

I don't mean that remark as a cheap snipe at Mr Bester, but if his quotes in one newspaper in the aftermath of the Titans' thumping at Bristol are to be believed, then he is into psychological advantages and gaining the upper hand mentally.

Apparently, losing by more than 30 points, as happened at Bristol, gives you the edge going into the Championship play-offs over that particular opponent. Now, as much as no coach on earth worth their salt likes losing, that is clearly stretching things just a little bit too far. Rotherham had brought back all their best shock troops for the planned arrival of the Pirates a week ago, but they didn't quite bank on the ever nimble Jack Frost weaving his silky way over the Clifton Lane turf and freezing it solid.

Protective covers were dragged all the way from Doncaster Racecourse to try to coax some life back into the numb playing surface and while the Titans' website remained upbeat about the game going ahead, privately club officials exhibited a whole spectrum of the finest Yorkshire pessimism.

The cover itself was a noble idea and they clearly worked hard to be able to borrow it, but in reality it was about as effective as placing a paper tissue over freshly planted spring flowers in the Siberian tundra.

Then on Friday, with the clock ticking well past the scheduled departure time from Cornwall for the Pirates, a man in a cloth cap with a whippet was dispatched onto the pitch wearing clogs replete with ice spikes to make a decision.

After several minutes of muttering, shaking his head and shrugging, the game was called off and the battle delayed for another week. For the Pirates' squad school was suddenly out and they all raced off for a few days away from the training pitch tweeting like crazy and bemoaning traffic wardens as they went.

Quite what was in store for the Titans' squad I don't know but with a month having elapsed now since their first team last took to the field in anger, it probably involved hard work and lots of pain.

So now we must steel ourselves to do it all again this coming weekend.

An advance guard did travel last weekend and promised to be in the clubhouse at Clifton Lane sampling the contents of the bar late into the night.

They may still be there. Knowing who they are makes that a distinct, and amusing, possibility.