derbies was maintained after ten minutes when both sets of forwards were involved in some pushing and shoving that resulted in Kearnan Myall and Louis McGowan both being sent to the sin bin.
Rotherham got their first points of the day after 14 minutes when Gareth Steenson converted a penalty from 20 metres out after Leeds were penalised for offside at a ruck.
The visitors then took the lead five minutes later but Leeds were the masters in their own downfall. There appeared to be no danger on when Rhys Oakley took a ball from Richard Vasey from a poor kick by the Titans. However, Oakley's pass to Rawlinson was too short and the hooker was unable to take it in. Rotherham moved the ball quickly before kicking ahead. Welding appeared to have it covered but diving to catch the ball, knocked it backwards and Errie Claassens was on hand for simple try. Steenson added the conversion to make it 10-5.
Leeds hit back after 27 minutes when Leigh Hinton hit a penalty from 45 metres out near the touchline that just crept over the bar to cut the deficit to 10-8.
A light drizzle was making conditions slippery but that was not really an excuse for some of the poor handling on display from both sets of players but in particular the Tykes.
However, Hinton did retake the lead on the brink of half time with a penalty from distance again after Vasey had been taken out with a high tackle. The penalty made it 11-10 at half time.
The Tykes lead was short lived as Rotherham retook the lead with a penalty three minutes into the half when Jonny Hepworth was penalised for holding on in the tackle. Steenson stepped up to kick the penalty from 40 metres out and make it 13-11 to Rotherham.
It was not long before Leeds were back in front however when Rotherham were penalised for hands in the ruck after a good break by Hepworth. Hinton hit the penalty to make it 14-13 to Leeds after 46 minutes.
The see saw nature of the scoreboard continued three minutes later when Steenson struck from the 22 metre line after Leeds were penalised for pulling a man back in back play.
After the tit for tat nature of the start of the half, Rotherham hit what looked like a decisive blow after 55 minutes when they scored a try through second row Erik Lund after several driving mauls from the Titans close to the line. Steenson added the conversion to make ti 23-14 to the visitors.
However, the Tykes finally hit back after 63 minutes when the work a catch-and-drive move from 20 metres out and eventually Mike MacDonald was driven over the line for the score. Hinton added the conversion to make it 21-26.
Two minutes later Steenson was again on target with a penalty to give the Titans a two score lead once again just as Leeds had got back into the game.
However, the Tykes managed to set up a grandstand finish with a try five minutes from time. After a long spell of pressure, the ball was finally moved into space by Vasey out to Leigh Hinton on the wing to score. Unfortunately, he could not add the conversion from the touchline but the Tykes were now within three points.
It looked like Leeds had snatched a draw when Leigh Hinton hit a penalty from 45 metres out with two minutes remaining however Leeds failed to deal with the kick off and new Tykes signing Joe Bedford slotted over a drop goal from almost on half way to snatch it for Rotherham 32-29.
Leeds: Hinton, Welding, Hepworth, Snyman, Biggs, Vasey, Rauluni, MacDonald, Rawlinson, Noon, Hooper, Myall, Dunbar, Schusterman, Oakley
Replacements: Paul for MacDonald (71), Parkes for Rawlinson (62), Taele for Myall (46), Lock for Oakley (55), Aspinall for Rauluni (55), Tuilagi for Snyman (55), Holtby for Biggs (60)
Rotherham: Turnball, Allen, Hennessy, Claasens, Steenson, Bedford, Walsh, Conroy, Hopcroft, Lund, McGowan, Fourie, Bornman, Cochrane
Replacements: Croall, McComb, Hanna, Buchanan, Kirkwood, Tuohy for Allen (46), Stewart
Ref: Martin Fox
Attendance: 7,105