Rotherham Preview
This Sunday at Castle Park 9th plays 10th as both teams look to finish at least 8th in the Championship.
Kick off is 2pm at Castle Park.
The South Yorkshire Derby will be at its most poignant as the two teams look to beat each other in the race for a play off position place, 8th place in the league means immunity from relegation while 9th place means a battle in the relegation play off.
Also part of the day will be the return of the Army Zone, climbing towers and other activities provided free pitch side by the Army.
The Titans currently sit in 9th, 1 point above the Knights. Presently the Knights have 2 games in hand over Rotherham Titans, but those games have to be won to generate points.
The 11 points to 7 defeat of the Knights by the Titans earlier in the season at Clifton lane was a blow to a Doncaster side in the midst of an injury crisis. 11-0 down at half time the Knights battled back into contention only to see a downpour and worsening conditions prevent anything resembling Rugby being played.
With the added spice of a potential 8th place finish added to the traditional heat of a South Yorkshire Derby fans are surely in line for a big performance from both sides.
The Titan’s Jonathan West (fly half) is the Championship’s 6th top points scorer, on penalty kicks scored West is equal 4th, it’s his conversion’s scored that lets him down. West is their top points scorer and he is Championship’s equal top drop goal scorer equal with the Knights Ali Warnock. Ex-Knight Brad Hunt (centre) and Jon Feely (right wing) are the Titan’s equal top try scorers, Jon Skurr (No. 8) is only 1 try behind.
The Titans have scored 75% more tries than the Knights and Titan try scoring tends to occur away from home (about 60%) and predominantly in the first half (again about 60. Over 40% of Titans tries have been scored by forwards, predominantly back row. With an away game so close to home, Doncaster will need to be on form defensively but this is where they have shined recently. The Knights defensive performances have carried them through this tough time, and with several key players back from injury it could be a true sense of the season starts here for the Knights.
A potential full debut for ex Beddau no 8 Chris Bundy is on the cards, who’s chance at a starting berth was denied last Saturday due to the cancellation of the game against Birmingham. Potential returns from injury could include Scrum Half Nicky Griffiths and Winger Oli Goss after long term injuries.
The first look at the Knights team sheet will be available, as always , via the Knights tale Ezine which you can subscribe to via the Knights official website www.drfc.co.uk via the fanzone.
