YORK Railway Institute waved farewell to a disappointing Yorkshire Four campaign with a 33-5 defeat at Rotherham Phoenix.

Unable to mount a challenge for promotion, RI have finished seventh in the table with 11 defeats from 20 games.

Opponents Rotherham would have been promoted if Hemsworth had lost at Ossett - but that did not happen.

Instead, they narrowly missed out on the top two automatic promotion places and finished third in a division that operates without promotion play-offs.

From the first whistle, the home side took control, scoring four tries inside the first 34 minutes.

RI conjured some magic of their own when the man of the match Tim Lewis side-stepped several Rotherham players before scoring a well taken try in the corner.

RI trailed 26-5 at the interval but soon fell further behind.

After four minutes of the second half, Phoenix scored again but RI tackled resolutely to keep the score at 33-5 until the final whistle.

Hemsworth beat Ossett 49-26 to finish top of the league above second placed Skipton.

RI will be hoping for better fortune next season.