Titans prepped and focussed for Plymouth test

Their four-match winning streak has raised hopes that a genuine a sustained challenge can be mounted in National One, with the gap to top spot down to two points ahead of tomorrow’s home match against Plymouth Albion.

Barker’s mantra of not easing up and making the absolute most of the players’ time together during the week remains.

“Do I have to keep the players’ feet on the ground? The lads do that anyway,” Barker told the Advertiser. “We have some good leaders in the group. Seb Nagle-Taylor, the captain, keeps them down to earth and it is all through work ethic. We’ll continue to work hard in training to get the job done when Saturdays come around.”

Next opponents Plymouth Albion have had a hit and miss start, winning four and losing four, but three wins out of the last five shows that they, like Rotherham, are a team gaining some proper cohesion and understanding.

Rotherham have no fresh injury concerns after their 45-15 win at Esher last time out. Centre Jamie Cooke is back in training while the other two injury absentees, back Dan Leake and second row Dan Preston Routledge, should be back after the match at Ampthill a week on Saturday.

Added Barker: “Plymouth will be tough but if we get what we want to do right then I feel we’ll win.”

Kick-off is at 2pm.

Team: Callum Irvine; Henry Roberts, Harry Dunne, Ellis Abrahams, Connor Fiel; Joe Barker, Alex Dolly; Dan Richardson, Ali Thomson, Rikki Stout; Jamie Ure, Tom Cotterill; Luis Ball, Zak Poole, Seb Nagle-Taylor.

Replacements: Jack Bergmanas, Will Dennis, Conor Keys, Eru Smith-Wano, Connor Dever.

Full preview and a look back to the win at Esher in this week’s Advertiser.