Match Preview

Saturday 30th September 2023 (KO 3pm)

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PRE-MATCH LUNCH
This season lunches need to be booked in advance (by 23:59 on the Thursday) using a simple on-line reservation & payment system. Due to a maximum capacity this will be on a first-come-first-served basis.
The lunch prior to the Rotherham Titans match will be served from 1.30pm with BAR1876 opening from 12noon.
For further details: https://www.tynedalerfc.co.uk/a/prematch-lunches-66490.html
To Book:-

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ROTHERHAM TITANS

This Saturday we extend a warm welcome to the players, officials and supporters of ROTHERHAM TITANS for the eighth match between the two clubs. There have been six League matches and a friendly before today.
Until 2021 the League encounters took place in North 1 in seasons 1990/91 and 1991/92 when Rotherham were passing through to the dizzy heights of the Premiership.

THAT ROTHERHAM TRIP TO THE TOP
Rotherham entered league rugby in 1987 (Level 7). They were defeated by Morpeth in their first league game in September 1987 but then enjoyed enormous success with five promotions in the next seven seasons:-
• North East 1 champions: 1988–89
• North 2 champions: 1989–90
• North 1 champions: 1991–92
• Courage League 5 North champions: 1993–94
• Courage League 4 champions: 1994–95
They were then National Division One Champions in 1999/2000 (N.B. National Divison One became the Championship in 2011). They beat Bedford in a two-legged play-off, winning at home 40-20 and only losing away 0-14 for a 40-34 aggregate, so they were promoted to the Premiership.

Relegation in 2001 was followed by success the following season when they were again National Div. One champions, but were denied access to the Premiership as they did not fulfil entry requirements.

Undaunted, in 2002/03 Rotherham again topped National Div. One and this time were promoted to the Premiership for a second time – but again suffered relegation after one season.

Rotherham RUFC had adopted the title ‘Titans’ in the 2003/04 season.

The Titans remained at level two until 2018, when they were demoted, from what had become the Championship, to the National Leagues, and were relegated again two seasons later to National League Two (North) in 2020, thus meeting up with Tynedale that season after almost thirty years.

SEVEN PREVIOUS MATCHES BETWEENJ THE SIDES
13th October 1990 - Tynedale 15 Rotherham 21 (North 1)
7th December 1991 - Rotherham 16 Tynedale 4 (North 1)
20th February 1993 - Tynedale 35 Rotherham 15 (Friendly)
Four of the Tynedale team that day, Chris Leslie, Richard Parker, Martin White and Steven Dunn have sons who could be playing for Tynedale today.
20th November 2021 - Rotherham 38 Tynedale 14 (Nat.2 (N))
26th March 2022 - Tynedale 31 Rotherham 47 (Nat.2 (N))
24th September 2022 - Rotherham 37 Tynedale 7 (Nat.2 (N))
14th January 2023 = Tynedale 27 Rotherham 10 (Nat.2 (N))

In league matches – Played 6. Rotherham have won 5 with 169 points for and 98 against.

LAST SEASON
24 Sept 2022 - Rotherham 37 Tynedale 7
14 Jan 2023 - Tynedale 24 Rotherham 10
It was honours even between the sides last season with Rotherham winning comfortably at home but Tynedale registering their first ever league victory over the Titans in the return match at Tynedale Park when Tynedale gave a superb all-round performance in gale-force conditions.
The Tynedale squad in last season’s home victory was:-

FORWARDS: White, Frankland, Caudle, Wearmouth, Dunn, Blackburn, Dodd, Bell
BACKS: Blackett, Rodgers, Hutton, Miller, Lilley, Dryden, Parker
REPLACEMENTS: Johnston, Batey, Cousin, Nankivell, Cooke

ROTHERHAM THIS SEASON
The Titans have started this season very strongly, winning their four opening matches quite comfortably, as they look to improve on last season's disappointing, for them, fourth place.

Rotherham’s league results to date:-
Rotherham 52 Billingham 24
Wharfedale 19 Rotherham 34
Rotherham 33 Lymm 10
Rotherham 43 Huddersfield 15

ROTHERHAM WEBSITE
https://www.titans-rugby.com/

MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Nathan Howarth
AR1: Simon O’Neil
AR2: Fraser Gill

BALL BOYS
Tynedale Under 10’s

WEATHER FORECAST
Possible light showers, light south-easterly wind, 15 degrees

SELECTED SQUAD