Round 18 of National 1 this weekend will see Rotherham Titans continue their push at the top-end of the table when they host Leicester Lions at Clifton Lane; kick-off on Saturday is 2pm.
NOTE: Cash only on the gate £12 members - £15 non-members - try to have the right money please. Cards accepted at the bar.
Last time out Rotherham exceled with an eye-catching 45-26 win at Dings Crusaders where they impressed by securing the bonus point after just 30 minutes.
Dings are a tough nut to crack on their own 3G surface, with leaders Rams being the only other side to have beaten them at Shaftesbury Park this term.
Although Dings gave Rotherham a real run for their money in the first half, the South Yorkshire side controlled the second period to ease away at the end.
Another tricky challenge awaits Rotherham this week as Leicester Lions have already shown on their day, they are a match for any side in the division.
Indeed, Lions have managed to achieve something that the top 3 sides, Rams, Richmond and Rotherham have failed to do and that’s beat Sale FC away from home.
Leicester have also beaten a good Dings side and only narrowly lost 20-17 last time out against Plymouth Albion and so nobody at Clifton Lane will underestimate the task ahead.
The sides have met only once before, that came earlier in the season where Rotherham ran out 34-17 winners in a tough encounter at Westleigh Park.
Going into this week’s match Rotherham have made four changes to their starting XV.
In the front row hooker Luke Cole is flanked by props Charlie Capps at loosehead and new recruit from Darlington Mowden Park, Eoin Harrison, who comes in for Andrew Foster at tighthead.
The second row sees the return of Zak Poole as he replaces Ellis Thomas and he’ll partner Harry Gilson-Fox.
The back row remains the same with John Okafor at blindside, Travis Gordon on the openside with Callum Bustin at number 8.
Across the backline scrum half James Naylor comes in for JB Bruzulier and he is accompanied in the half back positions by Jack Townend, who switches from full back to cover for the injured Rob Povey, with Lloyd Hayes and Jamie Cooke maintaining their partnership in midfield.
The back three sees Ronnie Du Randt switch from the wing to full back for Jack Townend, with Tomasi Tanumi on the right wing and another new recruit in Calum Barrett coming in on the left wing.
Looking ahead to the game Titans Harvey Biljon said:
“It’s frustrating that we’ve gone from a really good performance at Dings Crusaders into a week off. We would have liked to have kept on a roll and maintained our momentum.
“We’ve been a little bit disjointed over the last few weeks what with the Esher game being postponed and this break, so I was really looking forward to getting back into training and to getting back on track and there’s no better way than a home game against Leicester Lions.
“Against Dings, I thought the performance was balanced across both the forwards and backs; I think we deserved the scores we took against them and at times our defence was really strong. So overall there is lots to build on from that game.
“We had a very strong second half performance and you must give the players credit for that. There have been several games where our second half performances have been better. We address key aspects of the game at half time and then it’s up to the players to go and implement those adjustments to the way we put a plan together.
“We know we have another tough game when we take on Leicester Lions and we’ll not underestimate them. This is a team that has just narrowly lost 20-17 to Plymouth Albion and you underestimate Leicester at your peril.
“If you look at the tries they’ve scored, particularly against Rams and you look at the way they perform and their attitude towards everything; they’re used to being in this position, they found a way out last season and they’ll be looking to find a way out again.
“We’ll have to make sure we concentrate on our performance for the full 80 minutes or more, because from what I’ve seen Leicester are a well organised team and given the chance they will hurt you.”
Titans: 15 Ronnie Du Randt, 14 Tomasi Tanumi, 13 Lloyd Hayes, 12 Jamie Cooke, 11 Calum Barrett, 10 Jack Townend, 9 James Naylor, 1 Charlie Capps ©, 2 Luke Cole, 3 Eoin Harrison, 4 Zak Poole ©, 5 Harry Gilson-Fox, 6 John Okafor, 7 Travis Gordon, 8 Callum Bustin.
Replacements: 16 Jack Bergmanas, 17 Zach Toerien, 18 Andrew Foster, 25 Harry Newborn, 19 JB Bruzulier.
