Doncaster Knights v Rotherham Titans

Rotherham Preview

Local derbies are notoriously hard to call as form often flies out of the window as passions are aroused and the best made plans of coaches are laid to waste in the resultant performances of their teams.

Going into Saturday’s game, which kicks off at 2.30pm at Castle Park, both sides are on 23 points with Rotherham in 6th place and the Knights in 7th. The only real difference is that the Titans have won 5 of their nine games to Doncaster’s 4 but with us having gained 7 bonus points to Rotherham’s 3. Strangely, given that the Titans have won 1 more game than us, we have scored 57 more points than them but conceded 23 points less. So I am not sure if these figures give us much of a clue as to the outcome of Saturday’s match.

So let’s have a look at how both sides have fared in their matches against common opponents:

Doncaster Knights                              Rotherham Titans

Pirates (a) Lost 14 – 30                       Lost 15 – 40
Bristol (a) Won 26 – 24                        Won 26 – 12
Bedford (h) Lost 24 – 29                      Won 19 – 16
Worcester (a) Lost 30 – 28                  Lost 32 – 25
Nottingham (h) Won 46 – 42                Won 37 – 31
London Welsh (a) Lost 24 – 29            Lost 10 – 39
Birm & Solihull (h) Won 33 – 14           Won 32 – 14
Plymouth (a) Won 41 – 3                     Lost 10 – 21

Moseley (h) Lost 16 - 23               Esher (h) Won 25 – 22

Nothing in it based on these results then except that perhaps the fact that Rotherham just beat Bedford at home whereas we just lost.

So what about individuals and here we seem to have a slight edge as Matty Williams and Steve McColl are equal 2nd in the Championship try scoring stakes with 6 each whilst, for Rotherham, Adam Kettle and Peter Swatkins have 4 each. On the kicking front, Rotherham’s Juan Pable Cocine has 94 points whilst, for the Knights, Tristan Roberts has 120. However, watch out for Rotherham’s ex-Leeds contingent Joe Bedford at scrum half, Jonny Hepworth at centre and Richard Welding in whichever position in the outside backs that they choose to select him.

Let’s turn now to the scores between the two teams in league rugby. Interestingly, as Rotherham started in the leagues in 1987 several levels higher than Doncaster, it was not until 2005, when we joined them in what was then National Division One, that we have played each other. Of the five games that have been played at Castle Park, the Knights have won all of them as follows:

Doncaster Rotherham

2005/6   35 - 34
2006/7   15 -  9
2007/8   39 -  15
2008/9   28  - 22
2009/10 27 - 20

With the exception of 2007/8, all close games none more so than last season when going into injury time the match was tied at 20 points all (with the Knights never having been in the lead) when the Knights won through a spectacular long distance try by replacement full back Steve McColl after a build up that lasted 90 seconds and involved a scrum, five rucks and 17 passes.

Still no wiser – me neither so, why not come down to Castle Park on Saturday and see for yourself South Yorkshire rugby at its very best. And, at the same time, savour the wonderful family atmosphere, tempt yourself with Janet’s famous home made “Cow Pie” and wash it down with some of our excellent Tetleys or, if you are a real ale advocate, our “Headless Huntsman” guest beer.

See you there!