After last week’s scheduled game against Clifton was postponed, Rotherham Titans finally start their 2026 with a tough test when they travel to Bishop’s Stortford in round 16 of National 1; kick-off at Silver Leys on Saturday is 3pm.
Due to last week’s postponement and the 2-week Christmas break, by the time Titans kick-off against Bishop’s it will have been a month since they last played. The ring rust will need to be shaken off quickly, as the test which awaits them is a challenging one.
Whereas Bishop’s Stortford got rid of their cobwebs with a blow out last week against Plymouth Albion; and although Stortford lost that one, they’ll be ready and firing for the visit of Rotherham.
Titans will go into the game on the back of a narrow loss to Leeds and although the South Yorkshire side had opportunities to win the game, on the day they weren’t able to take them.
Bishop’s will come into the match in excellent form following a shaky start to the season which saw them win just one of their opening eight fixtures.
However, several players have arrived since, and their form has been transformed which has seen them win five of their last 7 outings.
In that run of games Stortford have impressed with stunning wins over Rams at home and Tonbridge Juddians away, but most impressive of all is their away win at Rosslyn Park.
Their 2-point defeat against second-placed Blackheath saw them collect two bonus points and as they have shown all season, they are a side with plenty of fight in them.
The teams have met on seven previous occasions with Rotherham holding a slender 4-3 advantage and typically games between the sides are tight affairs. In last season corresponding fixture at Silver Leys Titans ran out narrow 17-11 winners and another close game is expected.
Going into the match Titans have made four changes to their starting XV, with one in the backs and three in the forwards.
In the front row hooker Morgan Veness comes in for Luke Cole and he’ll be flanked by Alastair Donkor at loosehead prop with Andrew Foster at tighthead.
In second row Frankie Gascoigne links-up with Harry Gilson-Fox who returns from injury meaning John Okafor moves into the back row at blindside for the injured Ellis Thomas, with skipper Harry Newborn on the openside and Jack Baldry at number 8 for the injured Callum Bustin.
The backline sees scrum half JB Bruzulier and fly half Rob Povey continue in the half back positions.
Lloyd Hayes and Travis Gordon maintain their partnership in midfield.
Whilst across the back three Jackson Barling starts on the right wing, with Mitchell Lacey-Babalola coming in for Luckas Sableman-Blue on the left wing and Isaac Shaw at full back.
Titans: 15 Isaac Shaw, 14 Jackson Barling, 13 Lloyd Hayes, 12 Travis Gordon, 11 Mitchell Lacey-Babalola, 10 Rob Povey, 9 JB Bruzulier, 1 Alastair Donkor, 2 Morgan Veness, 3 Andrew Foster, 4 Frankie Gascoigne, 5 Harry Gilson-Fox, 6 John Okafor, 7 Harry Newborn (Capt.), 8 Jack Baldry.
Replacements: 16 Luke Cole, 17 Zach Toerien, 18 Xavier Valentine, 19 Curran Maguire, 20 Sinjin Broad.
