Fylde travel to promotion challengers Rotherham Titans on Sat (7th Oct), ko 14.00. This will be a tough contest for the Lancastrians against a very powerful Titans squad that has rebuilt confidence and performances following a disappointing 2022-23 campaign.
Fylde won both matches last season, with a quite outstanding display at Clifton Lane (16-41) and a battling one at the Woodlands (30-23).
With the Titans in 2nd place in National Two (North) and Fylde, despite two successive defeats, in 4th, then this should be an excellent shop window for this League.
Fylde make two changes in their starting line-up with Jordan Dorrington at centre and David Fairbrother at no 8. Amongst the replacements is the Sale Sharks Academy prop, Tye Raymont, who arrives at the Club on a dual registration arrangement. Welcome Tye!
Rotherham Titans have a very powerful pack, with Zak Poole skippering them from the backrow, veteran enforcer at lock, Matt Challinor, experienced lock partner Matt Smith (ex-Cornish Pirates, Leeds Tykes & Doncaster Knights) and a very strong frontrow including another former Premiership veteran Gareth Denman (ex-Northampton Saints, Gloucester, Coventry & Doncaster Knights).
Newcomers in the backline include much travelled scrum-half Jean Baptiste Bruzuler (ex-Old Albanian, Worcester Warriors, Clermont Auvergne, Leeds Tykes, Cornish Pirates & Hartpury College) and a player very familiar at the Woodlands, speedy free scoring winger Dan Rundle (ex-Westoe, Tynedale, Coventry) who has joined after six successful seasons with Stourbridge RFC.
Heavy scoring goal kicker is Lloyd Hayes, either from fly-half or fullback. He leads the N2(N) points scoring table with 65 to date.
The Titans have won all five matches to date – Billingham (52-24), Wharfedale (19-34), Lymm (33-10), Huddersfield (43-15) & Tynedale (19-33).
