Rotherham Titans travel to the North West this weekend for a tough opening away fixture of the season, when they take on Sedgley Park in a top-of-the-table clash at Park Lane.
After just one game Sedgley sits top of the pile by virtue of having scored more points against Harrogate in their opener than Roth did against Wharfedale, with both teams holding a points-difference of 30.
Roth knows full well the significant challenge that awaits them on Saturday, as Sedgley showed their class last week running in 9 tries in a 51-21 win at Rudding Lane and whilst Park have a good all-round game, they have a particular penchant to get the ball out to a speedy backline that have the ability to wreak havoc on defences.
Roth however will focus on their own performance and what they can control and they will look to impose their game on Park, as they too look to maintain an unbeaten start to the campaign.
The history of games between the sides has seen 10 previous league encounters, all of which have taken place at level 2 (now the Championship), with Roth holding a narrow 5 – 4 advantage with one game drawn. Of Rotherham’s five previous visits to Park Lane they have only won once, that being a 25-20 victory back in October 2006.
Going into this week’s game Rotherham have made 2 changes to their starting XV, with one each coming in the backs and forwards.
Harry Dunne comes in at inside centre for Mat Clark, who is struggling with a dead leg and Matti Williams comes in at openside for Marcus Payne who made his debut for the club last week in the win over Wharfedale.
Rotherham born back rower Harry Williams comes in on the bench; as does fly half Joe Carlisle and both will be keen to impress at some stage.
Titans: 15 Cameron McDonald, 14 Connor Field, 13 Lloyd Hayes, 12 Harry Dunne, 11 Jamie Cooke, 10 Jonny West, 9 Sam Boxhall, 1 Charlie Capps, 2 Harry Newborn, 3 Colin Quigley, 4 Matt Challinor, 5 Matt Smith, 6 Theo Nwosu-Hope, 7 Matti Williams, 8 Zak Poole (Capt.).
Replacements: 16 Fran Entressengle, 17 Rikki Stout, 18 Harry Williams, 19 Sam Pocklington, 20 Joe Carlisle.
