Rotherham Titans face a huge test this weekend when they travel to Yorkshire rivals and league leaders Hull in round 23 of National 2 North; kick-off at the Ferrens Ground on Saturday is 2pm.
This match will be one of the toughest challenges of the season for Rotherham and the outcome will undoubtedly have an impact at the end of the season with regards to their title ambitions.
Hull have impressed all season and have been bettered only twice, with both of their defeats being close affairs, losing 19-17 at Stourbridge and 20-15 to Rotherham at Clifton Lane.
The Humberside outfit’s home form has been impeccable, having won all 10 games with the bonus point. Indeed, no away side has collected the losing bonus point there and only Bournville have picked up the losing try bonus, but that was in a heavy 50-22 defeat.
In their last 3 outing at home Hull have scored 158 points and 24 tries, but to demonstrate their all-round prowess, they can also boast of having the meanest defence in the league, as they concede less than 12 points per game.
Therefore Rotherham will go into this one fully aware of the challenge awaiting them, but they will travel, as they always do, with confidence that if they perform to their abilities they are capable of coming away with a win.
Going into the clash Roth have made just one change to the starting XV that beat Stourbridge last time out. That change comes in the backline and sees George Tucker come into the side on the wing for Connor Field.
Speaking ahead of the match Titans Adam Byron said:
“I don’t think the outcome of this game is everything; there is still a lot of rugby to be played before the end of the season and both sides have difficult fixtures ahead and let’s not forget about Sedgley Park, they are still very much in the mix too.
“This game however is another Yorkshire derby and of course there are the bragging rights to be had; but to be fair whoever does win the game, it will put them in a decent position in terms of the league.
“So whilst we know this game isn’t a be all and end all one, it is nevertheless a huge challenge and it’s a challenge we are up for and are very much looking forward to.
“We can only take one game at a time, so we will look to put in a good performance and hopefully come away with the right result and then let’s see where that puts us.”
Titans: 15 Matt Minogue, 21 George Tucker, 13 Lloyd Hayes, 12 Harry Dunne, 11 Jamie Cooke, 10 Joe Carlisle, 9 Sam Boxhall, 1 Colin Quigley, 2 Harry Newborn, 27 Rikki Stout, 4 Matt Challinor, 5 Lewis Wilson, 6 Zak Poole (Capt.), 7 Matti Williams, 8 Kieran Curran.
Replacements: 16 Jack Bergmanas, 28 Keifer Laxton, 18 Alastair Donkor, 19 Tom Richardson, 22 Olly Fisher.
