By Stefan
November 30 2005

THE weekly dip into the records for games played in previous years on the coming week-end sees Rotherham on the road at Kendal and Birkenhead with home games against Henley, RC Narbonne, Wasps and Blaydon.

One year ago
The Titans chalked up their seventh league win and stopped the temporary rot which had set in after losing two matches in succession. They entertained Henley at Clifton Lane and stuttered to a 27-7 win, tries coming from David Strettle (2), Ant Elliott and Tom Eaton who also added a penalty and two conversions. Making debuts were the half-back combination of Brendan Haami and Tom Eaton. Haami, the Taranaki scrum-half, who also played for Wellington Hurricanes in the Super 12s, made a big impression. Eaton, aged 22, also seized his opportunity to make an impact, scoring a try, creating Strettle's second and kicking two conversions and a penalty.

Two years ago
The Titans, playing in the Premiership, entertained RC Narbonne at Millmoor in the Parker Pen Challenge Cup, Europe's second tournament. The French side had too much firepower upfront and won this first-leg 17-10. Arnaud Martinez and Martin Scelzo were able to command the scrum over rivals Simon Bunting and John Rawson. This was Steph Nel's first official match in charge in which all the home side's points came from Mr Reliable - Jon Benson - who returned a try, penalty and conversion.

Five years ago
Wasps travelled to Clifton Lane for a Premiership fixture and gave the home side a lesson in backrow play in a convincing 30-15 win. Within hours of Rotherham losing this game by three tries to nil - their tenth defeat in 11 Premiership matches - Rotherham’s benefactor and biggest shareholder, Michael Yarlett, indicated he would once more return to the board providing urgently needed leadership on and off the field. The home sides points came from Luke Smith. The South African landed four penalties and a drop-goal.

Twelve years ago
Rotherham made the journey to Kendal in National 5 North, now called National 3 North. They beat them in a 16-8 victory in what turned out to be a promotion year. Richard Selkirk - Roth's Number 8 - scored try, one of the 44 he bagged in his long and illustrious Rotherham career, with Kevin Plant adding three conversions and a penalty. Richard's haul places him third in the all-time lists for league tries for Rotherham.

Fourteen years ago
Rotherham travelled to Birkenhead Park for a North 1 league match in the 1991-1992 season. They swept aside their hosts in a 20-10 victory with tries coming from Paul Scott, Tim Turner, John Dudley and Kevin Plant scoring two penalties and a conversion. Rotherham won the league and promotion with a 100% record that year and broke into the National leagues.

Eighteen years ago
Rotherham hosted Blaydon at Clifton Lane in the first season of League rugby. RRUFC had been placed in North East One and were keen to show that they could progress upwards. They ran out comfortable 35-0 winners. Richard Selkirk scored a hat-trick of tries, others were added by Russ Askwith, Paul Davies and Ian Bremner with Kevin Plant adding four conversions and a penalty. The six try to nil victory gave Roth the first of their 14 'nils' they inflicted in the league.