Rotherham survived the wind, the rain, two sin-binnings and two penalty tries to become Yorkshire's first Premiership One side at Goldington Road this afternoon.
The homespun Clifton Lane side needed every ounce of Tyke grit and determination to preserve the 20-point first leg lead they held at the start of the game.
Just as they had been on top last Wednesday, so they were rocked back today.
Almost the entire second half was played in a 10 metre area at the bottom of the pitch close to the Rotherham line.
Despite their constant pressure, Bedford could not get over the line.
True, Rotherham used every trick in every book to stop them and were twice punished by referee Ed Morrison.
But when the final whistle sounded, with Rotherham a man down, Bedford were six points short of their target and Yorkshire had a team in the top flight at last.
In a scoreless opening period played largely in heavy rain, Rotherham were quickly on top, only to be forced back by relentless Bedford pressure.
Unfortunately for the home side, slippery handling conditions forced elementary mistakes and despite being camped on the Rotherham line for long periods, they could not cross the whitewash.
Their best chance came five minutes from the break when skipper Alistair Murdoch intercepted a Simon Binns pass 10 metres from his own line.
The former Australian international sprinted downfield, pursued by a posse of Rotherham tacklers.
Only Martin Dawson had the pace to catch Murdoch, hauling his man down deep in visitors' territory.
The ball squirmed its way to Paul Sackey but somehow, with the try line begging, it spilled from his grasp.
As on Wednesday, the introduction of replacement hooker Terry Garnett helped stabilise the Rotherham pack, although Mike Umaga failed with a simple penalty chance which could have put the match beyond Bedford's reach.
The home side seized the initiative when the side's returned, piling on the pressure, only for Rotherham to resist.
Typical Yorkshire grit prevented the Bedford pack from driving over at a five metre scrum, then winger Alan Buzza tackled Charlie Harrison into touch after the scrum-half had nipped down the blindside.
Long-serving second-row John Dudley was thrown on by the visitors, dumping Duncan Hughes into the advertising hordings with his first uncomprimising lunge.
Dave Scully then swung Sackey round by his collar as the winger headed for the line. Bedford could not get over themselves but referee Ed Morrison didn't need them to.
Rotherham had already been warned about collapsing mauls close to their own line, they transgressed once too often for Morrison's liking, the penalty try was awarded and Scott Stewart converted.
Unable to win their own line-out ball on a regular basis, the visitors were vulnerable to the long punt downfield.
Twice Bedford mauls were held up, Rotherham gaining the benefit of Morrison's doubt on both occasions. On the next occasion, they were not so lucky. Another penalty try, another Stewart conversion, this time with the added punishment of a spell in the sin-bin for Jim Thorpe.
Now the home side were within a converted try of survival.
Rotherham attempted to regroup but their Achilles heel had been found. Only a Bedford knock-on saved them in the same bottom corner where they had been exposed twice before.
Carlos Hassan was shown a yellow card four minutes into injury-time for a high tackle on Stewart.
Bedford moved forward again but there was not enough time for them to find their favourite corner.