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#Post#: 11071--------------------------------------------------
Roth v Esher Team News
DIR By: Watto
Date: September 20, 2024, 7:34 am
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Round three of National 1 sees Rotherham Titans face a stiff
challenge when they host fellow newly promoted side Esher;
kick-off at Clifton Lane on Saturday is 2pm.
Titans impressed last time out with a resounding 45-28 win at
Darlington Mowden Park, running in six tries for a fine win on
the road.
The victory was Titans second of the season and keeps them
unbeaten at this early stage. Nevertheless, following promotion
from Nat 2 last year, their performances against Rosslyn Park
and Darlington has clearly shown they are capable of competing
against sides at this higher level.
However, this week’s challenge will be a testing one when Esher
rock up at Clifton Lane. The Surrey-based outfit have a
reputation as a free-scoring side that can attack from anywhere
on the park.
Indeed, their tally from last season of 1108 points was the
second highest across all four of the National leagues; only
Leeds Tykes scored more…just.
Esher’s start to the season has been a touch tricky as they’ve
had two tough fixtures to contend with.
On the opening weekend they travelled to Sedgley Park, and
whilst they held the lead early in the second half, Sedgley
bounced back to run away with the game. Similarly last week
Esher took on Nat 1 favourites Rams, and whilst after 50 minutes
there was nothing in the game, Rams eventually ran out 43-24
winners.
So the threat is there and Rotherham will know that.
The teams have met previously on ten occasions with Rotherham
holding a 7-3 advantage. The last time being in 2019 at Clifton
Lane in National 1; that day Roth ran out 22-12 winners with a
hat trick of tries from Seb Nagle-Taylor and one from Rikki
Stout.
Going into this game Titans have made just three changes to
their starting XV.
In the front row Jack Bergmanas comes in at hooker for Luke Cole
and he will be flanked by Charlie Capps at loosehead and Andrew
Foster at tighthead; whilst Zak Poole is joined again in the
second row by Curran Maguire.
In the back row John Okafor returns from injury and he comes in
for Ben Copley at blindside, whilst Harry Newborn retains his
spot on the openside as does Callum Bustin in the number 8
shirt.
The sole change across the backline sees James Naylor come in at
scrum half for JB Bruzulier and he links up with Rob Povey in
the half back positions.
Tomasi Tanumi and Lloyd Hayes partner up again in midfield,
whilst the back three sees Travis Gideon and Jamie Cooke on the
wings with Ronnie Du Randt at full back.
Looking ahead to the match Titans Harvey Biljon said:
“I was really pleased how the players went about their business
at Darlington. Everything was underpinned by going away from
home and facing our first challenge as a squad with the bumps
and bruises and everything else and we came away with a 5-point
victory.
“However, do we as a group want to get better, do we want to
make sure we don’t let teams in for bonus point tries… of course
we do; but fundamentally you could see us change gear in the
game and secure the bonus point in the first half. The challenge
now is to maintain focus, stick to task and keep our discipline
so that we don’t give opportunities to the opposition.
“I think we had a good balance and impact in the way we rolled
the bench; I thought the bench added and contributed to the
whole performance. And having built that lead and the 10-point
buffer it gave us the chance to be a bit braver and go for a
couple of those opportunities and I was really impressed with
the decision making on the field.
“We’ll try to do the same again this week, but the important
message is don’t underestimate Esher!
Esher are a well balanced side and from the tries they have
scored they seem to be a team that can build a score through
backs and forwards and they are putting something together where
they have an all-round game, especially when it comes to their
attack.
“They have come up against two very tough teams and they picked
up a bonus point against Rams which shows where they’re at.
Having watched them they are a team that can score tries and if
you’re not on top of it, they can get away from you.
“So we know what’s coming and I’m delighted that we are back at
Clifton Lane in front of our supporters! I was looking forward
to training at the start of the week and I’m excited that we go
into this game coming off two wins. Hopefully we can put in a
performance that will give us a chance to keep that run going.”
Titans: 15 Ronnie Du Randt, 14 Travis Gideon, 13 Lloyd Hayes, 12
Tomasi Tanumi, 11 Jamie Cooke, 10 Rob Povey, 9 James Naylor, 1
Charlie Capps, 2 Jack Bergmanas, 3 Andrew Foster, 4 Zak Poole
(Capt.), 5 Curran Maguire, 6 John Okafor, 7 Harry Newborn, 8
Callum Bustin.
Replacements: 16 Luke Cole, 17 Loma Kivalu, 18 Alastair Donkor,
19 Ellis Thomas, 20 JB Bruzulier.
#Post#: 11072--------------------------------------------------
Re: Roth v Esher Team News
DIR By: Keppeltitan
Date: September 20, 2024, 7:50 am
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Does any one know why Jack Townend is not even it the squad .
Is he injured or just not picked?
#Post#: 11073--------------------------------------------------
Re: Roth v Esher Team News
DIR By: Watto
Date: September 20, 2024, 8:43 am
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--- Quote from: Keppeltitan link ---
>
> Does any one know why Jack Townend is not even it the squad .
> Is he injured or just not picked?
>
--- End Quote ---
The latter I would think, Ronnie has played exceptionally well
so far this season, so I would have thought that it is difficult
for Jack to take the 15 shirt from him, at the moment.
#Post#: 11074--------------------------------------------------
Re: Roth v Esher Team News
DIR By: Steve Bott
Date: September 20, 2024, 9:12 am
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I would be good if Swifty could pop a quick update on here about
the injured players.
#Post#: 11075--------------------------------------------------
Re: Roth v Esher Team News
DIR By: Rucko
Date: September 20, 2024, 9:35 am
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Jack Townsend was certainly about at The Darlington match,
Ronnie has been my man of the match in the Darlington game
#Post#: 11076--------------------------------------------------
Re: Roth v Esher Team News
DIR By: southerngit
Date: September 20, 2024, 11:04 am
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I think its as simple as Jack winning the shirt back from
Ronnie. Very lucky to have two good full backs in competition!
#Post#: 11077--------------------------------------------------
Re: Roth v Esher Team News
DIR By: Mwhite83
Date: September 20, 2024, 12:18 pm
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I'll admit I was a bit gutted when townend didn't start as he
was my player of the year vote last year but after watching du
randt in the 1st game I can see why he started he was excellent.
And like the last post It can only be a good thing to have 2
very good full backs
#Post#: 11079--------------------------------------------------
Re: Roth v Esher Team News
DIR By: Robbie Dye
Date: September 20, 2024, 2:31 pm
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Swifty does an injury update article in the home game programmes
#Post#: 11113--------------------------------------------------
Re: Roth v Esher Team News
DIR By: Robbie Dye
Date: September 22, 2024, 5:52 am
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Can't say I noticed him at game yesterday. Was he there?
#Post#: 11116--------------------------------------------------
Re: Roth v Esher Team News
DIR By: Watto
Date: September 22, 2024, 8:50 am
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--- Quote from: Robbie Dye link ---
>
> Can't say I noticed him at game yesterday. Was he there?
>
--- End Quote ---
If it's Jack Townend you are referring to, he was at the game
standing behind the posts at Broom Road end in the second half.
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