Cragg’s Titans ready for acid test of London Welsh

The Clifton Lane club sit top of the second tier after what is their best start since their last promotion season 11 years ago.

Not that anybody is thinking that far ahead. These are early days, and in playing perennial strugglers Moseley twice and Championship novices Ealing Trailfinders in the opening three weeks, Rotherham have yet to come up against a team that harbours realistic ambitions of reaching the Premiership.

But you can only beat what is in front of you, and Rotherham have done that, emphatically.

Considering the turmoil they underwent last season when two head coaches – Andre Bester and Alex Codling – left the club, it could quite easily have been the Titans on the receiving end.

To that end, much of the praise must go to 30-year-old head coach Lee Blackett, who has united the club on and off the field and got everybody at Clifton Lane smiling.

“The managerial changes looked unfortunate at the time but they’re looking very fortunate right now,” said Rotherham chairman Nick Cragg.

“We have given an opportunity to a young man who has grasped it with both hands.

“He’s done some tremendous work on and off the field and we are delighted with him so far.”

The first acid test of the Blackett revolution comes on Saturday when Rotherham host London Welsh, the team considered favourites for promotion.

Cragg said: “I think London Welsh will be concerned. Hopefully, we will be able to put on a good show, and if we do it might make people sit up and take notice.

“It’s very nice to see our name at the top but we are not getting carried away. We know that we have got a long way to go and a hard task ahead of us, but what we have done so far proves the decisions made were correct.”