By Stefan
December 14 2005

THE weekly delve into the record books for games played in previous years on the coming week-end sees early home encounters against Worcester and Coventry including the first try scored by Mike Schmid for the club.

This week, Rotherham are on the road at Saracens and Bristol with two more home games against London Irish and Orrell.

Two years ago
London Irish visited Millmoor for a Premiership fixture on a foggy day with water standing on the pitch. Steph Nel, Roth's newly-appointed director of rugby, introduced five South Africans to his line-up and what a what a baptism it was. London Irish won 15-10 and the Titans extended their losing run to 15 games, however they gained their first Premiership bonus point of a troubled season for losing by seven or fewer. The Titans scored their points in the second half, after being 15-0 down at half-time, with a Benson penalty and a 70-metre try from Michael Wood converted by Phil Jones.

Three years ago
Rotherham, playing in one of their championship years, welcomed the much fancied Orrell side to Millmoor. Ross Reynolds coached the visitors at the time and in a quality game, Roth were tested to the full but ran out 29-19 winners with tries coming from Matt Oliver and Stuart Dixon with Ramiro Pez landing five penalties and two conversions.

Four years ago
In what was arguably Rotherham's best season - 2001/2002 - this week-end saw cup action in Watford against Saracens. An ideal opportunity to test how far they had come since their relegation from the top fight. Defeat by 43-17, six tries to one, in the sixth round of the Powergen Cup showed clearly that Rotherham were well short of the ability to compete successfully against Premiership opposition. But, encouragingly, the performance was significantly better than their previous trip to Vicarage Road the season before when they lost by more than 50 points. Roth's points came from Michael Wood with a try and Ramiro Pez with a rare drop-goal and three penalties.

Five years ago
Rotherham travelled to Sale for a Premiership fixture having played there in the cup only a month before when they fought like tigers throughout a close game but still went out of the Tetley Bitter Cup at Heywood Road 20-12. Rotherham fans entertained the thought that they could do better second time around. But it was not to be, Sale turned on the class and put in a magnificent performance. The 45-12 defeat sent the fans home with their heads down. In both games, Roth's 12 points came from the boot of South African flyhalf Luke Smith with four penalties.

Seven years ago
Newly promoted Worcester made the trip to Clifton Lane for the first time, its was the first game between the two sides. Rotherham's 10-point victory margin started a rivalry between the two sides who went on the play 9 thrilling games of which Roth won seven. The score was 29-19 to Rotherham with tries coming from hard running centre Greg Austin (2), even harder running centre Mike Umaga and twinkle-toed local boy Matt Walker. Three conversions and a penalty were added by Jake Niarchos.

Eight Years ago
This week-end saw the visit of hapless Cov, oh how I love Coventry! What a cracking game; 46-8 was the score. In this game Mike Schmid scored the first try of the 43 the legendary Number Eight recorded for the club in his magnificent eight seasons. He put in an outstanding performance destroying the team who repeatedly boasted of their 'heritage' in those days. Our lot may not have been able to make that boast but they certainly had loads of 'pedigree'. And they showed it that day with tries coming from Jonathan Harper (2), Guy Easterby, Greg Austin, John Dudley and Mike Schmid. The rest of the points in this six try to one demolition were added by Simon Binns with five conversions and two penalties.