SCORES
15 mins - Tynedale 7 Rotherham 0 - Try Will Miller + Conv Jake Rodgers
18 mins - Tynedale 7 Rotherham 7
42 mins - Tynedale 7 Rotherham 10
HALF TIME
45 mins - Tynedale 14 Rotherham 10 - Try Chris Wearmouth + Conv Jake Rodgers
74 mins - Tynedale 17 Rotherham 10 - Pen Jake Rodgers
88 mins - Tynedale 24 Rotherham 10 - Try Jake Rodgers + Conv Jake Rodgers

CLICK HERE to view Match Programme
CLICK HERE to view Match Report
CLICK HERE to view Match Photos (courtesy of John & Barbara Austin)

Half Time 50/50 Draw - Ticket No 36937 Dave Batey (£186)

After what seems like an eternity (its actually 7 weeks) the 1stXV return to action at Tynedale Park this weekend when we extend a very warm welcome to the players, officials and supporters of ROTHERHAM TITANS for the seventh match between the two clubs. (There have been five League matches and a friendly before today.)

Until 2021 the League encounters between the sides took place in league North One , in seasons 1990/91 and 1991/92, when Rotherham were passing through to the dizzy heights of the Premiership!

THAT TRIP TO THE TOP
Rotherham entered league rugby in 1987 (Level 7). They were defeated by Morpeth in their first league game in September 1987 but then enjoyed enormous success with five promotions in the next seven seasons:-
• North East 1 champions: 1988–89
• North 2 champions: 1989–90
• North 1 champions: 1991–92
• Courage League 5 North champions: 1993–94
• Courage League 4 champions: 1994–95They were then National Division One Champions in 1999/2000 (N.B. National Division One became the Championship in 2011). They beat Bedford in a two-legged play-off, winning at home 40-20 and only losing away 0-14 for a 40-34 aggregate, so they were promoted to the Premiership.

Relegation from the Premiership in 2001 was followed by success the following season when they were again National Div. One champions, but were denied access to the Premiership as they did not fulfil entry requirements.
Undaunted, in 2002/03 Rotherham again topped National Div. One and this time were promoted to the Premiership for a second time – but again suffered relegation after one season.

Rotherham RUFC had adopted the title ‘Titans’ in the 2003/04 season.

The Titans remained at level two until 2018, when they were demoted, from what had become the Championship, to the National Leagues, and were relegated again two seasons later to National League Two (North) in 2020, thus meeting up with Tynedale that season after almost thirty years.

THOSE SIX PREVIOUS MATCHES
1989-1990 Tynedale 15 Rotherham 21 (North 1)
This match was interesting in two ways:-
Rotherham gained their only away win in the League that season, and Tynedale
would not lose another League home match for three years
1991-1992 Rotherham 16 Tynedale 4 (North 1)
Rotherham maintained their 100% record to clinch the only promotion place in North One in April 1992.
The Rotherham programme that day said:-
“Tynedale are having a very good season, making the headlines by their progress in the Pilkington Cup. They won away in the first round at Lichfield and then beat Wakefield at home. In the third round last week they were away to London Scottish and went down 20-3.”
“In the league they have started well too, with an 18-3 victory at Widnes and a 19-10 home success against Bradford & Bingley. Their overall record this season is P 12 -W 10 -D 1- L 1.”
The teams that day were:-
Tynedale: D.Stephenson: J.Rutherford, R.Harris, J.Fletcher, G.Fleming: J.Paton, G. Rutherford: R.Parker (Capt), E.Parker, M.White: S.Dunn, C. Hewitson: P.Leonard, A. Herdman, M. Lee. Rep. C.Johnston, D. Walsh.
Robert Parker, Angus White and Graeme Dunn, who are all likely to be representing Tynedale today, are sons of players in that 1991 team, while one of our 1991 replacements, Craig Johnston, can now be seen performing excellently behind our ‘1876 Bar’.
Rotherham: R.Wood: P.Scott, M Collins A Rivett, T.Turner: K. Plant, S Worrall: L.Rick, D.Wright, S.Coy, I Gresser J.Dudley: C.West, R. Selkirk (Capt), S.Hanson. Rep: A,Twible, R.Asquith.
1992-1993 Tynedale 35 Rotherham 15 (Friendly)
(Tynedale’s only win.)
2021-2022 Rotherham 38 Tynedale 14 (Nat.2 (N))
2021-2022 Tynedale 31 Rotherham 47 (Nat.2 (N))
2022- 2023 Rotherham 37 Tynedale 7 (Nat.2 (N))

So -in league matches – Played 5. Rotherham have won 5 with 159 points for and 71 against. It’s about time we began to balance things up!

THIS SEASON
The Titans will probably be disappointed with their results this season, losing 6 of their 14 matches played to date – leaving them in fifth place. It’s certain that they will not, however, have given up and will certainly be looking to go the second half of the season undefeated. We know the strength of the Titans squad and will be expecting a very tough encounter.

The Rotherham Titans’ league results to date:-
Rotherham 67 Harrogate 15
Hull Ionians 27 Rotherham 22
Rotherham 50 Blaydon 3
Rotherham 37 Tynedale 7
Wharfedale 23 Rotherham 29
Rotherham 16 Fylde 41
Sedgley Park 25 Rotherham 17
Rotherham 27 Huddersfield 3
Sheffield 14 Rotherham 39
Rotherham 14 Sheffield Tigers 19
Otley 39 Rotherham 26
Rotherham 26 Chester 21
Preston Grasshoppers 21 Rotherham 16
Blaydon 19 Rotherham 47

Rotherham Website
https://www.titans-rugby.com/

Officials
Referee: Michael Harris
AR1: Adam Morrison
AR2: Fraser Gill

Ball Boys
Tynedale Under 12’s

Weather Forecast
Possibility of light rain showers, moderate westerly breeze, 6 degrees

Selected Squad