Rotherham Titans take to the road this weekend where they’ll face one of the toughest tests in the division when they take on Rosslyn Park in round 18 of National 1; kick-off at Priory Lane is 3pm.
Rotherham will go into the game on the back of a good performance last time out against Leicester Lions where they ran out 73-24 winners, scoring 11 tries along the way.
Grabbing the headlines was hat-trick hero Jackson Barling for his clinical finishing on the wing, alongside centre Travis Gordon who helped himself to a brace against a spirited and determined Lions outfit.
The win kept Titans in touch at the top of Nat 1 as they, and a host of other clubs, try to chase down leaders Plymouth Albion.
That won’t be an easy task as this week’s game at Rosslyn Park will be testing; the London based outfit have a formidable record on their artificial pitch, as victories this season over Blackheath and Plymouth Albion clearly demonstrate.
Indeed, in the corresponding fixture last term Rotherham came up against an in-form Rosslyn outfit that ran out worthy 56-26 winners, scoring 8 tries.
Overall, the sides have met on eight previous league occasions with the score standing at 4-4, with the home team coming out on top in every game.
Going into the match Rotherham have made five changes to their starting XV, with two coming 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 who comes in for Zach Toerien at loosehead prop with Andrew Foster coming in for Xavier Valentine at tighthead.
In second row Frankie Gascoigne links-up again with Harry Gilson-Fox, whilst an unchanged back row sees John Okafor at blindside, with skipper Harry Newborn on the openside and Jack Baldry at number 8.
The backline sees scrum half JB Bruzulier come in for Sinjin Broad, and he’ll link up with fly half Rob Povey in the half back positions.
Lloyd Hayes and Travis Gordon maintain their partnership in midfield.
Whilst across the back three Mitchell Lacey-Babalola comes in on the left wing for James Norman, with Jackson Barling on the right 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.
