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Pace ace finally ready for Titans debut
ROTHERHAM Titans winger Peter Swatkins makes his long-awaited debut in tonight's Championship match against second-placed Nottingham at Meadow Lane (7.45om).
Swatkins, of whom much is expected because of his pace, signed from Morth Manch-ester club Sedgley Park in the summer, but an ankle injury means he has not been able to play for the Clifton Lane side in the opening five league games.
The right winger scored 16 league tries last season in a struggling Sedgley Park team which was relegated. He takes the place of Peter Wackett, on loan from Leeds Carnegie, who returns to the Headingley club.
Rotherham coach Craig West has also made other changes to take on what will be a difficult challenge against Nottingham who have won their last four games.
Centre Andrew Henderson comes into the starting line-up in place of the injured Nick Buckley (ankle). At scrum- half Neil Chivers is preferred to Matt Rhodes who began against Birmingham last Saturday, and in the pack there is a new partner for Sam Dickinson in the second row.
Flanker Andy Barnes is switched to lock because James Craig misses tonight due to a shoulder injury.
Rotherham's pack - whose power, ball-winning and retention will be seriously tested by their Nottingham opposite numbers - also has a change at the back of the scrum where Ryan Burrows, who missed the Birmingham game, is picked at blindside flanker.
Another interesting selection by West for tonight's match is that of Kiwi winger Matt Farmer who is rewarded with a starting place after scoring his first try for Rotherham when he came on as a second-half replacement last Saturday in Solihull.
The wide pitch at Meadow Lane should suit the Titans' attacking backline which likes to spread the ball but, given that Nottingham are one of the best counter-attacking teams in the Championship, Rotherham must try to avoid at all costs turning over possession, a weakness that cost them in their last home game against London Welsh.
Roth's new prop, Craig Voisey, travels to Nottingham with the 22-man squad, but will not play.
Rotherham: Whitehead, Swatkins, Hunt, Henderson, Farmer, West, Chivers, Quigley, Batty, Prescott, Barnes, Dickinson, Burrows, Du Plessis, Swindall. Reps: Kilbane, Conroy, O'Donnell, Challinor, Hayter, Rhodes, Allen.
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Weather for Sheffield
Tuesday 22 May 2012
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