Rotherham Titans bow to power of Scots once again

For the second time in a week, Rotherham Titans lost to Scottish opposition in a pre-season friendly, but last night's performance at Millmoor was more promising than against Melrose.

Titans may well have lost by four tries to one, but the effort overall was more vigorous and the pack on several occasions defended their line well.

But with the National One league campaign starting a week today in Birmingham against Pertemps Bees, Titans new coach, Phil Werahiko, may be concerned that his squad seems to lack power in attack.

Having said that winger Geoff Griffiths looks sharp, and the arrival of Auckland B centre, Mark Lawson, will boost the team's ability to score tries which was in short supply at Millmoor. Griffiths, who scored Titans' only try last night, has the potential to cause havoc in National One defences, and the slick manner in which the backs handled the ball indicates that backs' coach, Eugene Martin, is making an impact.

It is naturally going to take several matches for the new squad to gel and establish their authority, but from what's been seen in the two friendlies, Titans have sufficient potential to finish in the top eight, but their pack, which may lack size, could struggle against bigger forwards such as at Northampton, Exeter, Plymouth and Cornish Pirates.

Rotherham will be strengthened in the forwards by the return from injury of Barry Jacobsz.

Titans: Lennard, Feeley, Grissing, Blackwood, Griffiths, Whitehead, Chivers, Corsar, Corrigan, Boulton, Smith, McGowan, Connolly, Cochrane, McComish. Reps: O'Donnol, Jenkins, Wilford, Waterhouse,Wade, Sutton,Hallam, Nolan, Allen, Bingle.