Dream start for Rotherham

Mike Schmid
By Roth Admin
October 12 2005

Rotherham Titans made a dream return to National One Rugby with a resounding victory over Sedgley Park by 42 points to 22. The real “Rotherham Show” took place at Clifton Lane and as with all good shows the best was saved until the end – when Mike Schmid gallop 35 metres to score Titans 6th try.

The players ran out at Clifton Lane to a rapturous welcome from the 1,250 delighted Rotherham faithful. However Sedgley Park hadn’t read the script and took the lead in the 3rd minute from a Blair Feeney penalty – after Rotherham were penalised for being offside.

Rotherham responded with some excellent forward pressure and were rewarded with a penalty of their own in the 8th minute, which Pez slotted home comfortably.

Although Rotherham continued their forward dominance it was Sedgley Park who scored again. Two more penalties by Feeney on 10 & 19 minutes put the visitors 9-3 ahead.

On 22 minutes Sedgley Park held up Rotherham over their own try line. That resulted in a 5-metre scrum and a yellow card for the visitors lock Tim Fourie. Three minutes later and a blind side break from Jacob Rauluni enabled him to scamper down the left hand touchline to score Rotherham’s 1st try of the campaign. Pez missed the difficult conversion.

From the restart a driving move from Olckers and Pendlebury, combined with some slick passing from Jorgensen enabled young Dave Strettle to charge over in the left hand corner. Pez missed the conversion to leave Rotherham ahead 13-9.

Although the Titans continued to dominate possession and territory, it was the visitors who scored next – another penalty from Feeney reduced the arrears to a single point. At this point Riaan Olckers was given a yellow card, but for what – no one is quite sure.

Against the balance of play, a 5th successful penalty for Feeney made sure the visitors went into the break with a 15-13 lead. At half time, the coaching team of Schmid and Northey told the players, “we need to go forward before going wide. Let’s not try and win the game every time we touch the ball, keep the ball and let’s move them around.”

Rotherham came out with renewed determination and regained the lead on 43 minutes with a Ramiro Pez penalty. On 48 minutes the classy Geraint Lewis crashed over for Rotherham’s 3rd try after some good work from Elliott and Tuiavii. Pez converted to give Titans a 23-15 advantage.

Virtually from the restart Sedgley Park struck back when Rotherham’s defence suffered a lapse in concentration. Sedgley’s left wing Richard Welding picked the ball up from a ruck and ran unopposed to touch down under the posts. Feeney made the conversion to reduce the arrears to a single point.

Rotherham didn’t panic and an excellent move on 58 minutes initiated by Lee Blackett, ended when Anthony Elliott cut back in from the right wing to score Rotherham’s 4th try and earn a bonus point. Pez added the conversion.

On 65 minutes Strettle scored Rotherham’s 5th try (his 2nd) after some good driving play from the pack. Rauluni spread the ball across the back line and when it arrived with Strettle, his burning pace allowed him to go over near the corner. Pez was unsuccessful with the difficult conversion. One of the biggest cheers of the afternoon came on 75 minutes when Rotherham legend Craig West entered the fray. It was back in 1984 that Craig made his Rotherham debut and the fans were delighted to see him once again in a Rotherham jersey.

The fairytale was complete on 80 minutes when Head Coach Mike Schmid intercepted a pass and glided under the posts at the clubhouse end with his trademark “swan-dive”. Young Tom Eaton converted in front to make the final score 42-22.

Considering this was Rotherham first game of the season, having had no warm up games, they must be pleased. They were obviously patches of rust, but as the weeks roll by their performances will get even better.

Roth Admin’s Man of the match: All the squad contributed immensely, but this week’s choice is Neil Briggs – an outstanding debut from the youngster.

Neil later commented, “It was a bit of an eye opener actually, the physicality of it today was unreal. I remember being in the shed when I was 13 watching John Dudley and it’s very special to me to play for the 1st team. I was very nervous and I didn’t get much sleep last night. I really enjoyed myself and hopefully I’ll start again next week.”

Rotherham Titans 15 Bernardo Stortoni, 14 Anthony Elliott, 13 Peter Jorgensen, 12 Lee Blackett, 11 David Strettle, 10 Ramiro Pez, 9 Jacob Rauluni, 1 Riaan Olckers, 2 Neil Briggs, 3 John Rawson, 4 Jonathan Pendlebury, 5 Glen Kenworthy, 6 Des Tuiavii, 7 Craig Short, 8 Geraint Lewis.

Replacements: 16 Jonathon Goulding, 17 Rod Lathum, 18 Adam Harrington, 19 Mike Schmid, 20 Craig West, 21 Tom Eaton, 22 Jason Keyter.

Sedgley Park 15 Feeley, 14 Bullough, 13 Hassan, 12 Voortman, 11 Welding, 10 Feeney, 9 Wilkinson, 1 Skurr, 2 Ponton, 3 Senior, 4 Lund, 5 Fourie, 6 Thomas, 7 Oxley, 8 Roberts.

Replacements: 16 Collie, 17 Du Plessis, 18 Keys, 19 Stockdale, 20 Lloyd, 21 Glynn 22 Naylor.

Referee: Andrew Small

Attendance: 1,250