By Roth Admin
October 28 2004

Rotherham entertain joint leaders Pertemps Bees at Clifton Lane on Saturday, Kick off is at 3:00pm. Rotherham go into the game on the back of two successive defeats. After last weeks league defeat at Coventry and the home loss to Plymouth in the cup, Roth will be looking to get back on track. Rotherham have made three changes from the team that ran out at the Butts Park Arena last Saturday. Michael Wood comes in on the right wing for Lee Blackett who moves to inside centre. Jason Keyter, (Who can consider himself unlucky) drops to the bench.

In the forwards there’s a welcome return start for Scottish International Colin Noon at tight head, relegating John Rawson to the bench. And at blind side flank the ever popular Des Tuiavii returns for Adam Harrington.

Rotherham have previously faced Birmingham five times in league history and have been successful on each occasion. The last time being at Millmoor in March 2003 when Roth came out on top with a 38-16 victory. On that day tries from Schmid, Keyter, Rauluni, Lloyd and Spence helped Roth to a comfortable win.

Rotherham hasn’t lost a league game at Clifton Lane since November 2001, when Exeter narrowly beat Roth 19-13. Thanks in part to some indifferent refereeing decisions and some superb kicking from Australian fly half Chris Malone. But to keep that record in tact Rotherham will need to find their best form to beat a much improved Birmingham side.

Birmingham’s form this season has been outstanding, having loss only one game away at Bristol. Last weeks home victory against Plymouth Albion will have given the Bees a well timed confidence boost. Although Bees are well known for their dominant pack, flying wingers, Nick Baxter and Aaron Takarangi have already scored 11 league tries between them this season and are sure to be dangerous if given the opportunity.

In short it promises to be a hard close game this Saturday and it may come down to who wants it the most!

Roth Admin Prediction: Roth by 5.

Rotherham:
15 Anthony Elliott, 14 Michael Wood, 13 Peter Jorgensen, 12 Lee Blackett, 11 David Strettle, 10 Ramiro Pez, 9 Jacob Rauluni, 1 Jon Golding, 2 Neil Briggs, 3 Colin Noon, 4 Jonathan Pendlebury, 5 Glen Kenworthy, 6 Des Tuiavii, 7 Craig Short, 8 Mike Schmid

Replacements from: Rod Latham, John Rawson, Richard Emms, Tim Maslanyk, Tom Rice, Adam Harrington, Tom Eaton, Jason Keyter