Rotherham Titans: No room for sentiment for Burnell

New Rotherham Titans coach Justin Burnell makes an emotional return today to London Welsh, the Championship club he took into the Premiership two years ago.
Justin BurnellJustin Burnell
Justin Burnell

However, sentiment will be put aside as Burnell’s aims to continue his positive start at the South Yorkshire club.

Rotherham have won both games they’ve played since Burnell assumed control at Clifton Lane, beating Ealing Trailfinders in the British and Irish Cup and then overcoming Bedford in the Championship last Saturday, the Titans’ first win in the league since November.

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While Burnell has a special feel for London Welsh, his priority is to make sure that his new club leave Old Deer Park with their first win away from home since he took over from Mark Jones.

“I had two good years at Welsh and made a lot of good friends there. With their squad this season, they should be much further up the Championship table,” he said.

“There’s been a good buzz at Rotherham this week following our league win and the younger players here are making their mark.The game at Welsh is a good opportunity for us to get points so that our Championship status is clearer for next season.”

Rotherham are 10th in the Championship and in all probability still need two more wins to ensure they avoid relegation

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Seventh in the league, five in front of the Titans, Welsh have been boosted following a win in Jersey where they beat the Channel Islanders 21-14.

They have a powerful pack and an accurate goalkicker in former England fly-half Olly Barkley.

Titans from: Scanlon, Keating, J Davies, Owen, Hayes,Broadley, Goodwin, Jones, Carter, Hislop, C Maddison, Harris,Tampin, Thiede, Williams, Holmes, Salmon, Oram, B Maddison, Argyle, Calladine, Ryan, Preece, Edgson, A Davies.