Preview -v- Rotherham

By Elliott Josypenko
October 29 2004
Bees will be looking for their first ever win against Rotherham when the pair meet in their top of the table clash. The travellers will feel that they have the edge having beaten another top of the table side just last week in Plymouth Albion.

Rotherham Titans -v- Pertemps Bees

30/10/2004 3PM

Clifton Lane, Rotherham

Pertemps Bees	Position	Rotherham
Jim Thorp	1	John Golding
Matt Miles	2	Neil Briggs
Matt Long	3	Colin Noon
Rob Walton	4	Jonathan Pendlebury
Dan Zaltzman	5	Glen Kenworthy
Ed Orgee	6	Des Tuiavii
Gavin Pfister	7	Craig Short
Hese Fakatou	8	Mike Schmid
Paul Knight	9	Jacob Rauluni
Tim Walsh	10	Ramiro Pez
Nick Baxter	11	Dave Strettle
Mike Davies	12	Lee Blackett
Simon Martin	13	Peter Jorgensen
Aaron Takarangi	14	Michael Wood
Dave Knight	15	Anthony Elliott
Martin O'Keefe	16	Rod Latham
Rob Merritt	17	John Rawson
Rob Hurrell	18	Richard Emms
Duncan White	19	Tim Maslanyk
Mark Woodrow	20	Tom Rice
Scott Williams	21	Adam Harrington
Tom Richardson	22	Tom Eaton

Bees will be looking for their first ever win against Rotherham when the pair meet in their top of the table clash. The travellers will feel that they have the edge having beaten another top of the table side just last week in Plymouth Albion.Rotherham’s fortunes have be different of late having lost their last two games against Plymouth in the cup and Coventry in the league at the new Butts Arena amidst controversy.

Rotherham have made three changes from the team that ran out at the Butts Park Arena last Saturday. Michael Wood comes in on the right wing for Lee Blackett who moves to inside centre. Jason Keyter drops to the bench.

In the forwards there’s a return start for Scottish International Colin Noon at tight head, relegating John Rawson to the bench. At blind side flank the ever popular Des Tuiavii returns for Adam Harrington.

Bees will be hoping to draw on their good win against Albion last week whereas Rotherham will be hoping to emulate their victory in the Yorkshire leg two years ago. On that day Rotherham blitzed a Bees defence running in ten tries in total before getting to 73 unanswered points.

The return to action of Mike Davies for the National League One game at Rotherham on Saturday October 30 (3pm) will come as some consolation for Pertemps Bees for the anticipated lengthy absence of Simon Martin.
Martin underwent keyhole surgery on a knee injury on Wednesday and has been told that he will be out of action for at least eight weeks rather than the expected two to three weeks. Former Bristol and Coventry centre Martin will have to undergo a major knee reconstruction and he is unlikely to play again before the New Year.
Martin impressed in last Saturday's victory at Plymouth Albion and his place against Rotherham will be taken by Davies who has been sidelined for five weeks by a knee cartilage problem.
The other change to the Bees' starting line-up is at number eight where former Tongan international Hese Fakatou returns in place of Jim Jenner. The number eight suffered a neck injury against Plymouth and the Bees are awaiting the results of scans.
Flanker Nathan Carter is also due to have scans on the neck injury which he sustained in the defeat at Bristol three weeks ago tomorrow (October 29).

Captain Ed Orgee drops back to his favoured 6 position due to the dearth of back row forwards and Duncan White makes the bench as cover.
Fly-half Mark Woodrow, who played in the Powergen Cup win at Doncaster two weeks ago, returns to the league squad for the first time since the opening day of the season at Henley on September 4.

Rotherham haven’t lost a league game at Clifton Lane since November 2001, when Exeter narrowly beat Roth 19-13. Bees will be looking to break that record.

Steve McCormacks Preview:

Match of the day in National One sees fourth placed Rotherham coming off the back of their first league defeat of the season play second placed Pertemps Bees, thrilled by an excellent home victory against Plymouth Albion.

Rotherham went down at Coventry at the weekend after two mediocre home performances that saw them beat Nottingham in the league and lose to Plymouth in the Powergen Cup. They are still unbeaten at home in the league although Pertemps Bees will be a big test on Saturday.

The Bees had a super win when disposing of Plymouth Albion at Sharmans Cross Road and have won three away league games this season. They were, however, comprehensively beaten in their last away match at Bristol and will need to improve if they are to win in South Yorkshire.

Rotherham have won on every occasion these two sides have met, and although likely to be closer this time, they should win once more on Saturday.

Steve's Prediction: Rotherham by five

My prediction: Rotherham 24-23 Bees

League Form Guide:

Pertemps Bees: w w w l w

Rotherham: w w w w l

Comparisons: