Sheffield Tigers 7 Rotherham Titans 67: Tigers take positives despite heavy defeat against full-time Titans

The Titans’ full time pros, whose first Championship game is at Clifton Lane against London Welsh on Sunday September 4, won comfortably by 67-7, running in 11 tries against Tigers, newly-promoted to National Two North.

“There were a lot of positive things from the game and both clubs learnt a lot,” explained Steve Salvin, Rotherham’s forwards coach.

“Lock Tom Hicks, who’s played in the Premiership for Gloucester, stood out and there was another excellent performance from another of our new signings second row Darren Oliver who has joined from the RAF.

“We’ll certainly learn a lot more from this Saturday’s game at Northampton Saints, but I believe we have put together something that’s exciting for the new season, although it’ll take some time for the squad to gel. That’s the biggest challenge.

“We were really pleased with the way some of the younger lads played, such as winger Jake Henry and centre Cameron Hudson.

“Someone who really caught the eye was 17-year-old scrum half Sam Pocklington, who is still at school in Harrogate.

“Now that we have four coaches at Rotherham it’s allowing us to prepare the squad far better than previously and what the Tigers match showed is that the new group is taking shape.”

Sheffield Tigers have another pre-season game arranged at Macclesfield of National One in two weeks before their first game in National Two North against Herefordshire club Luctonians.

Tigers’ coach Thiu Barnard said: “I am happy with our display against Rotherham and I thought several players did well, including winger Jamie Broadley and centre Tom Outram.

“Two of our forwards also gave outstanding performances against full time professionals-flankers Ben Sullivan and Steve Walker.

“We are well aware that National Two is a big challenge but we are fully prepared.”