By Stefan
November 23 2005

THE weekly scan through the records for games played in previous years on the coming week-end sees Rotherham on the road at Saracens, Bath and Middlesborough with home games against Manchester, Stoke-on-Trent and Thorne.

It was difficult this week, not many games have been played by Roth on this week-end.

Two years ago
The Titans made the trip to Watford for a league fixture against Saracens. Their hopes of closing the gap on their closest rivals at the bottom of the Premiership table lasted only 43 seconds. They unwisely kicked the ball straight to full-back Richard Haughton and in a flurry of hands, Thomas Castaignede streaked down the wing to score in the corner and Saracens were on their way to a 39-10 victory. Roth's first-half reply though was a beauty, Anthony Elliott scorched onto his own kick and Phil Jones's dummy and exquisite inside pass put Geraint Lewis - Roth's top try scorer that year - in by the posts. Jon Benson added the conversion and a penalty.

Meanwhile, back at the Lane, the Under 21s were doing slightly better. They lost to Harlequins 21-18 in a tight encounter. Tries coming from Dave Strettle and Lee Blackett with two penalties and a conversion from tom Eaton.

Four years ago
Rampant Rotherham rolled over Manchester and shot past 50 points for the fourth time in National One games that season as the hapless visitors were thrashed by eight tries to one at Clifton Lane. Alfie Too'Ala bagged a brace, other tries were added by Howard Parr, John Cannon, Mike Schmid, Andy Northey, Dave Scully and Michael Wood scored the pick of the tries when he cut inside from more than 30 metres out to score under the posts. Ramiro Pez added a penalty and two conversions before he when off with a sore ankle with Mike Umaga landing another four conversions to round off a comprehensive 55-10 win.

Five years ago
Rotherham travelled to Bath for a Premiership fixture and failed to soak up the host's pressure in a dismal 42-19 defeat. A crowd of over 7,000 at The Rec saw Bath, far from at their best or strongest, win convincingly by six tries to one. Careless defence, turning over possession, losing line-out ball and the failure of the backs to threaten, were  major weaknesses. Roth's points came from Jim Thorp who scored a try and Luke Smith who landed four penalties and a conversion. Jim Thorp was Roth's joint top try scorer that year with a season's total of three!

Twelve years ago
Rotherham hosted Stoke-on-Trent in National 5 North, now called National 3 North, for the visitor's only visit to Clifton Lane. They beat them in an emphatic 37-8 victory in what turned out to be a promotion year, Stoke finishing sixth. Tries were scored by Danny Walker (2), Dave Pullan, Paul Scott, John Dudley with Kevin Plant adding three conversions and two penalties.

Fourteen years ago
Rotherham travelled to Middlesborough for a North 1 league encounter. They brushed aside their hosts in a 20-9 victory, tries coming from Richard Wood and Russ Askwith with Steve Worrall scoring four penalties. Rotherham won the league and promotion with a 100% record that year.

Seventeen years ago
Rotherham hosted Thornensians at Clifton Lane in what turned out to be the final encounter between these two long-time rivals. They had their usual dust-up; never been any love lost between these two clubs.

Thornensians came out on top but when they looked at the scoreboard at the end, it was 24-6 to Rotherham! The score was never a concern to our friends from Thorne.

It was the 1988-1989 season, the league was North East 2, Rotherham finished top with a 100% record and gained their first promotion while Thornensians finished third from bottom. Rotherham's scorers were Martin Collins who scored the only try and Kevin Plant who converted it, added a drop-goal and five penalties.