PREVIEW TO ROTHERHAM (H) 27.09.14

26/09/2014 Back-to-back wins - probably not as easy as ABC After being granted the less-than-plum late January slot for their previous trips to Jersey, Rotherham's players and supporters will emerge blinking into the sunlight for a late summer fixture against the Island side.   Based on previous experience, even the rugged northerners must have been planning to pack thermals and sou'westers for the trip, but happily neither should be necessary; Jersey was officially in drought for around a week in the middle of this month, and although it has since rained once or twice, September could yet be the driest on record. Saturday looks dry and bright with a forecast high of 22c.

Rotherham's first trip to the Island in January 2013 saw the match played on the reserve pitch 2 at St Peter following incessant rain across most of December and January. It's fair to say the switch didn't delight the visiting party, especially when they were defeated 13-10. The 2013/14 season was little drier, but remedial drainage work meant the main pitch was in decent shape for a contest the Titans won 22-35, displaying some scintillating rugby along the way.

The Yorkshire side made it through to the play-offs last season, and are determined to back up this achievement with another top-four spot this time around. London Scottish may have something to say about that, and defeated the Titans 32-23 at the RAG on the opening Saturday of the season, but Roth have since recovered with two wins, a thumping 15-42 success at Bedford and a less convincing home victory over Plymouth Albion by 30-25.

Talking of backing up, Jersey will be looking to do just that after a stunning 12-39 win at Nottingham last Sunday. Jersey have only once recorded back-to-back league wins since joining the Greene King IPA Championship two years ago, with wins at St Peter over London Scottish and Plymouth Albion in October/November 2012. A win on home soil would really leave the Island players and supporters in the pink, but will be a tough task against one of the league's most formidable sides.

Jersey will take the field in an unfamiliar colour, with a one-off pink strip (pictured above)produced by kit supplier Kukri as part of a special charity fund-raising day. Local charity After Breast Cancer will be the beneficiary from the event, which will adopt a pink theme throughout, with discounted admission for female supporters who wear pink, shirt auctions, bucket collections and other activities to .............................

full story On the www.jrfc.je website