A Rotherham Titans XV ran out 49-7 winners over a Sheffield Tigers XV in appalling conditions on a wet and windy evening at Clifton Lane.
The scoreline wasn’t the most important aspect of a game that was reduced to a 60-minute contest; as the match was designed to allow both teams the opportunity to play some younger players to aid with their development.
Indeed, Titans young hooker Oliver Fretwell grabbed a hat tick of tries as his side outscored Sheffield Tigers by 7 tries to 1. Titans other tries came from Laurence Cowen-Leak, Tainne Finn, Rikki Stout and Ben Copley, whilst Corben Ollivent was exceptional from the tee with a perfect 7 conversions.
Pleased with what he saw Rotherham’s Harvey Biljon explained:
“It was a positive exercise for both clubs and there was real enthusiasm from both teams, especially considering the conditions. It was great that supporters got the opportunity to come to Clifton Lane and watch rugby on a Wednesday night.
“Where else are we going to get the opportunity to see those young guys coming through that want to be part of the club and tonight was one of those occasions and it was a great effort from everyone all round.
“I think there are a couple of things around our culture at the club at the moment and the direction we are going in as a club. We had a couple of senior guys in Rikki Stout and Jack Townend, who stepped up in between some 18 year-olds, put on the shirt and let them know what it was all about and that’s such a good thing that they want to put on a shirt for Rotherham Titans.
“It was also a great opportunity to see what players like Oliver Fretwell and Callum Russell had been turning over in training, in a game situation and it just reinforces my opinion that those guys will be part of the club and stay with us moving forward and that has to be a big positive.”
Referee: Owen Taylor
Assistant Referee’s: Jason Garrick & Liam Taylor
Rotherham Titans:
15 Jack Townend (c-c), 14 Tainne Finn, 13 Will Wood, 12 Corben Ollivent, 11 Jack Taylor, 10 Charlie Metcalf, 9 James Naylor, 1 Zach Toerien, 2 Oliver Fretwell, 3 Rikki Stout, 4 Callum Russell, 5 Lewis Allan (c-c), 6 Laurence Cowen-Leak, 7 Ben Copley, 8 Ellis Thomas.
Replacements:
Agustin Defelitto, Loma Kivalu, Curran Maguire, Jack Hedley, Cuchulain Livingstone, Morgan Thomas.
Photo Credit: Roy France