Roth v Exeter Preview

Strettle
By Roth Admin
December 10 2004

Rotherham makes the long journey this weekend to the South West where they will take on the Exeter Chiefs. After last weeks triumph over Henley at Clifton Lane the Laners confidence has been restored and they believe they can return North with the points.

There are four changes to the side that beat Henley. Ripol comes in on the wing for Wood. And in the forwards in come Emms, Noon and Pendlebury for Briggs, Rawson and Kenworthy who all start on the bench.

Over the years the two teams have played each other on ten occasions – all at this level. Rotherham have had the better on eight occasions, although the last time they met back in March last year, Exeter secured a deserved victory at the County Ground by 30 – 19.

Exeter has had a strong start to the campaign, wining eight and losing just two – collecting a bonus point in every game. Their two losses both away from home were at Plymouth by a point and at Penzance by six. Last week the Chiefs went to Birmingham and pretty much destroyed them by 39 – 17.

Not many sides return from Exeter with much and if Roth are to secure the victory all aspects of their game will have to function effectively. The improving pack will have to secure enough ball to give the half-back pairing of Haami and Pez a chance to show off their skills and create the openings for the backs. The line out needs to improve and the silly handling errors eradicated. I for one am confident that Rotherham will rise to the occasion.


Roth Admin Prediction: Roth by 5


Rotherham
15 Anthony Elliott, 14 David Strettle, 13 Peter Jorgensen, 12 Lee Blackett, 11 Oriol Ripol, 10 Ramiro Pez, 9 Brendan Haami, 1 Jon Golding, 2 Richard Emms, 3 Colin Noon, 4 Jonathon Pendlebury, 5 Opeta Palepoi, 6 Des Tuiavii, 7 Craig Short (C), 8 Jannie Bornman

Replacements.
16 Neil Briggs, 17 John Rawson, 18 Rod Latham, 19 Mike Schmid, 20 Jacob Rauluni, 21 Tom Eaton, 22 Michael Wood

Exeter
15, Graydon Staniforth, 14 Ed Lewsey, 13 Junior Fatialofa, 12 Mark Fatialofa, 11 Gary Kingdom, 10 Tony Yapp, 9 Haydon Thomas, 1 Danny Porte, 2 Sam Blythe, 3 George Davis, 4 Chris Bentley, 5 Rob Baxter ©, 6 Tony Walker, 7 Gary Willis, 8 Richard Baxter

Replacements
16 Keith Brooking, 17 Richard Liddington, 18 Dave Sims, 19 Alan Miller, 20 Stephen Ward, 21 Alistair Murdoch, 22 Adam Staniforth