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With the departure last May of Leeds (up) and Otley (down) from National One, the unique Yorkshire derby experience is limited to just one match at Castle Park and one at Clifton Lane. The first of those on Saturday is generating the expected high level of advance tickets sales so a bumper crowd will give Castle Park that loud, tribal feel on the day!
Rotherham will be looking forward to the fixture much more that they would have done just two weeks ago. Since then a change of Coach has seen old favourite Craig West return to take the helm and this brought an immediate change of fortune on the pitch as they fought out an excellent 28-25 win against Bedford last weekend. Form books go out the window in these derbies as passion and commitment determine the results and nobody will doubt that the Titans will arrive ready for the challenge. They announce just one change to the team this week, Neil Cochrane returning in the back row. This is only the fifth league meeting ever of these clubs, Doncaster having won three of the previous four and both at Castle Park.
The Knights will have to up their game considerably this week, after another below par performance in winning against London Welsh a week ago. Coach Lynn Howells has been increasingly irritated in recent weeks at below par performances, despite winning and holding on to second place in the league table. He has dropped three players for Saturday’s clash. Wes Davies, Tom Luke and Scott Gray all disappointed last week, and only Davies of the three finds himself even on the bench. In comes Anthony Carter, Spencer Davey and Glen Wilson, with Chris Planchant moving to the flank. One other change sees a rested Simon Bunting recalled to the front row to play against his old club, with Tom Davies reverting to the bench. It means that three former Clifton Lane players will face old mates, Carter and Glen Kenworthy being the other two.
To accommodate and entertain the expected crowd, additional car parking has been arranged at Danum School on Armthorpe Rd (for a small charge to School funds) and the Hesley outdoors bar and kitchen will be open one hour before kick off. There will also be a beer tent behind the East terrace and Street Performers to entertain around the ground. A pre match TAG rugby tournament will involve schools from the Edlington area. After the game, a local band will be playing in the main bar. Traffic will be heavy so everyone is asked to arrive early and stagger their departure.
Coach Lynn Howells and player Anthony Carter look forward to the match on the website video podcast section on Friday
The Knights team is:
A Carter, P Bailey, B Hunt, S Davey, D Van Vuuren, M Woodrow, B Jones, S Bunting, S Boden, N Tau, B Griffiths, G Kenworthy, C Planchant, S Grainger, G Wilson.
Bench: T Davies, T Toke, R List, O Cook, D Storey, C Rees, W Davies
Referee: M Wilson (RFU)
Other News Articles
POSTER FOR PIRATES GAME
FULL MATCH REPORT
KNIGHTS 34 VS COVENTRY 22
LENNARD VIDEO INTERVIEW
