By Stefan
January 25 2006

THE weekly delve into the record books for games played this weekend in previous years sees home encounters against Viadana, Worcester and Wakefield with Rotherham on the road at Plymouth, London Irish and Lichfield.

One year ago
The Titans travelled to Brickfields for their National One league fixture against Plymouth. Rotherham Titans lost the game 40-23, two excellent tries by winger David Strettle and centre Peter Jorgensen were not enough against Plymouth's powerful set of forwards. Tom Eaton converted both tries and added two penalties to his tally. His neat kick into the corner cleverly produced Strettle's try who grabbed the ball before it bounced out and raced over the whitewash.

Two years ago
Viadana travelled to Millmoor for the second leg of the Parker Pen Shield Quarter Final. The visitors came to defend a slender 2-point lead from the first leg in Italy the previous week. Hopes were high that the Titans could progress to a European Semi Final. In the event Roth won the game, however, the 22-21 victory was not enough to see them through to the next round. In a niggly game the French referee had a field day and Jon Benson converted five penalties to put Roth into a winning position. Jon Pendlebury, playing at blindside, scored Roth's only try of the game which Benson converted.

Three years ago
Rotherham were in another Quarter Final, this time in the Powergen Cup. They were up against Powergen Cup holders London Irish and hopes were high that they could achieve another giant-killing feat at the Madejski Stadium. Rotherham, battling for National League One title glory and a Zurich Premiership place, famously claimed Bristol Shoguns' scalp in the previous round. However, Rotherham were soundly beaten on the day by a technically-superior Irish side ending the visitor's long run of 34 straight victories in all competitions. Rotherham battled valiantly in all departments, Italian flyhalf Ramiro Pez landed two penalties and centre Matt Oliver went over for a consolation try in the final moments of the game.

Four years ago
Rotherham entertained Worcester at Clifton Lane in another of the long series of 'judgement day' league games against their fiercest National One competitors. By beating their long-time rivals 18-8, Rotherham took a huge stride towards regaining their place in the Zurich Premiership thanks to a tremendous team effort. Spanish winger Oriel Ripol, in one of his early games for Roth, was in outstanding form scoring two scintillating tries. Ramiro Pez landed a conversion and two penalties as Roth tackled Worcester to a stand still. It was one of Roth's most famous wins at Clifton Lane. 2,300 turned up to watch the outstanding team effort that made the dangerous visitors look as if they were clueless. It was certainly 'judgement day' for Les Cusworth the Worcester Coach, he was sacked after the game for his troubles.

Eight years ago
Rotherham took on local rivals Wakefield in the league and returned an impressive 7 to 0 try victory. Centre Greg Austin scored a hat-trick of tries while number eight Mike Schmid and flyhalf Simon Binns both bagged a brace of tries. Binns also added three conversions to his tally for the day. It was Rotherham's second season in Allied Dunbar Premiership 2 (now called National One), they finished fourth in the league that year qualifying for their first attempt at top-flight status with end of season promotion play-offs against London Irish.

Twelve years ago
Rotherham were playing in National Five North and made their one and only trip to Lichfield.  In what was a promotion year, they overcame their hosts 13-10 in a tight game. Tries were scored by Jason Sorby and Tom Bayston. Kevin Platt added the three points by converting a penalty to make up the winning score.