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#Post#: 13281--------------------------------------------------
Is the Drop Goal going the way of the Dinosaurs
By: Winger14 Date: January 24, 2026, 4:32 pm
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I'm not sure about Rugby in general, but with the Titans a Drop
Goal is has rare as the Proverbial Rocking Horse S**T.
When looking at 2 of our 3 losses this season we lost the games
by 1 pt. Coming towards the end of the game you would have
expected our Lads to try and work the Ball Forwards and have an
attempt at a Drop Goal.
In season 2015 /16 we converted 3 Drop Goals, since then we have
only converted another 2. In the last 20 seasons we've
converted 30 DG's.
Ollivent 7 - 12 - 24
Hayes 5 - 11 - 22
Davies 24 - 10 - 15
Barrett 26 - 09 - 15
Barrett 13 - 09 - 15
Barrett 06 - 09 - 15
Davies 01 - 02 - 15
Mckinney 27 - 09 - 14
Law 11 - 11 - 12
Law 18 - 03 - 12
Law 19 - 11 - 11
Hodgson 12 - 11 - 11
Hodgson 08 - 10 - 11
Law 03 - 09 - 11
Socino 19 - 01 - 11
West 27 - 02 - 10
West 31 - 10 - 09
Whitehead 32 - 10 - 09
West 17 - 10 - 09
West 13 - 09 - 09
Whitehead 04 - 01 - 09
Whitehead 08 - 03 - 08
Leonard 29 - 12 - 07
Steenson 22 - 04 - 07
Whitehead 18 - 02 - 06
Whitehead 04 - 02 - 06
Blackett 09 - 10 - 05
Whitehead 10 - 09 - 05
Pez 02 - 10 - 04
Keyter 25 - 09 - 04
The one that will always be in my memory was kicked on 22 - 04 -
07. We were playing Leeds at Headingley. It had been a really
entertaining game with the Lead changing hands several times.
With just minutes to go ( we had scored 2T 2C 5P ) and the
score was 29 - 29. We had worked the Ball forward
towards the Right Corner.
Our player was tackled, we won the Breakdown and the Ball was
passed out, it landed in the hands of Gareth Steenson who was
standing just 2 metres forward of the Centre Spot. He looked
up, steadied himself, then Dropped the Ball and Drop-Kicked it.
The Crowd were silent has the Ball sailed High and True and
between the Posts, the Cheer that went up was probably heard
back in Rotherham. We Won the game 32 -- 29. Many people will
remember Jonny Wilkinson's Drop-Kick that Won England the World
Cup, that was Great, but Steenson's was truly Fantastic.
If we could have done that against Plymouth, or / and Leeds,
look at the difference that would have made.
Also over that 20 Yr period we only Failed to Score any points
in 5 games -------------
Doncaster 09 - 09 - 17 A 44 -- 0
Nottingham 09 - 10 - 09 A 46 -- 0
Northampton 01- 03 - 08 A 73 -- 0
Northampton 03 - 11 - 07 H 0 - 41
Plymouth 27 - 10 - 07 A 15 - 0
#Post#: 13282--------------------------------------------------
Re: Is the Drop Goal going the way of the Dinosaurs
By: Watto Date: January 25, 2026, 2:01 am
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I remember that Northampton nilled us at home as well that
season, Northampton had the perfect season, played 30, won 30.
#Post#: 13283--------------------------------------------------
Re: Is the Drop Goal going the way of the Dinosaurs
By: Chris.Garbutt Date: January 25, 2026, 5:18 am
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The Drop Goal does seem to have gone out of fashion. Although
George Ford seems to be trying to revive it and it is a useful
tactic for England and Sale.
It is a useful way to get the board ticking and as you say in a
close match can be a deciding factor.
I’d also say the up and under seems to be vanishing. Bernardo
Stortoni found it very effective for us!
#Post#: 13285--------------------------------------------------
Re: Is the Drop Goal going the way of the Dinosaurs
By: Winger14 Date: January 25, 2026, 6:09 am
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Watto
Thanks for that, I have looked back through the Records 2004 -
05 to 2024 - 25 and found that there were 2 more games, on
consecutive weekends, where we were Nilled.
Plymouth 27 - 10 - 07
Northampton 03 - 11 - 07
Your memory is too good, if you remember any more don't tell
me, it's done my Head in going through all the records again
this morning to check if I've missed anymore, I'm so stressed
that I've got to go to the Pub now to unwind. ::)
#Post#: 13286--------------------------------------------------
Re: Is the Drop Goal going the way of the Dinosaurs
By: Rothoik Date: January 25, 2026, 6:19 am
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I wasn't able to see the Leeds match and I haven't seen any
footage, but I was a t Plymouth when we narrowly lost despite
being, in my opionion, the better team. I thought we looked
effective and dangerous with ball in hand and when we kicked it
and the kick was contestable, then we also did ok. The truth is
we didn't go through the phases enough in the backs and opted to
box kick an awful lot. On that day, the kicking was a little off
and in the end played into Plymouth's hands. Drop kicking, for
me, is a great weapon when you are going through the phases and
getting nowhere. I think this just doesn't happen much with many
teams, when close enough to realistically go for the drop goal.
Rotherham either make the yards anyway or go for the contestable
kick or go for touch. It's just theory but I don't really recall
any opportunity against Plymouth to execute a drop goal. The
referee also seemd to ignore Rotherham marching Plymouth's scrum
5 yards up the pitch and we, in my opinion (and as a qualified
ref) were denied a few kickable penalties. Dings (or Bristol
acadamey) was just a freak day I think. The rest we won. I think
the DG should definitely be a card up the sleeve though, if we
find ourselves in a tight spot (I think Sale, Blackheath, Park
and of course Plymouth are most likely to generate this).
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