Rotherham Titans are all set for what is expected to be a tough test this weekend when they host second placed side Sedgley Park in round 16 of National 2 North; kick-off on Saturday at Clifton Lane is 2pm.
The North West based side have been consistently good throughout the season and are to date the only side Rotherham hasn’t been able to beat. The reverse fixture back in September at Park Lane, in round 2, saw the sides battle each other hard for a pulsating 22-22 draw.
Indeed Sedgley are the second highest points scorers in the division with a massive 511 points and they hold the best goal-difference tally of 265. The stats back up the fact Sedgley enjoy getting the ball into their backs hands for them to exploit any gaps in the opposition’s defence.
So the South Yorkshire side has no illusions as to the task ahead and accordingly have worked hard in training this week as they prepare for the challenge ahead.
Going into the game Titans have made 4 changes from the starting XV which beat Harrogate at Rudding Lane last time out back on December 11th.
There are two changes in the backline which see George Tucker come in at full back as Lloyd Hayes moves to outside centre for Mat Clark, whilst Connor Field returns on the wing for Jamie Cooke.
In the pack Charlie Capps comes back into the side at loosehead prop for Alastair Donkor and Theo Nwosu-Hope comes into the back row for Keifer Laxton.
Speaking ahead of the game Titans Adam Byron said:
“There’s no doubt Sedgley Park will offer us one of our toughest challenges of the season. It’s certainly a clash of styles; they are very much a team that likes to attack out wide and they enjoy playing from touchline to touchline.
“Whereas we are much more compact at times; we do have the ability to attack from anywhere, but you can see from our results since September, the majority of our tries have come through our forward pack and there is the clash of styles which we are likely to see during the game.
“I think we are a very different team to what we were in early September when we drew with them at their place and no doubt they are too, but we are very much looking forward to the challenge.
“If we are going to do well we’ll need to make sure we get the basics right and possession and territory will be key as always, but I think one of the biggest things we have to get right is our discipline.
“That’s because Sedgley are a team that basically thrives on possession and territory. So our discipline needs to be spot on so we can make sure we keep the ball and then we play in the right areas of the pitch.”
Titans: 15 George Tucker, 14 Connor Field, 13 Lloyd Hayes, 12 Harry Dunne, 11 Tom Lewis, 10 Matt Minogue, 9 Sam Boxhall, 1 Charlie Capps, 2 Harry Newborn, 3 Rikki Stout, 4 Matt Challinor, 5 Matt Smith, 6 Theo Nwosu-Hope, 7 Zak Poole (Capt), 8 Callum Bustin.
Replacements: 16 Jack Bergmanas, 17 Alastair Donkor, 18 Colin Quigley, 19 Matti Williams, 20 Jonny West.
