Cup run can ease Rotherham’s pain from Bristol defeat

Lee Blackett’s Rotherham welcome Ulster Ravens having taken command of Pool 2 after winning all three of their games in the opening tranche of fixtures.

That included a 31-29 win in Belfast last month that helped the Titans establish a six-point lead at the top of their group.

Two wins from these next three games should be enough to secure a home last-eight tie at Clifton Lane, and will also go a long way to easing the hurt felt at a defeat at Championship pacesetters Bristol last Sunday.

Blackett said: “We were very disappointed to come away from Bristol with nothing to show for our efforts.

“The boys were outstanding and deserved at least a bonus point, if not the victory, which in my opinion would not have been undeserved.

“The lads have trained really well this week on the back of our performance down there and as we have said from the outset, the British and Irish Cup is a competition that we take seriously and want to do well in.

“We reached the quarter-finals last year and want to at least match that this year, but hopefully secure a home tie this time around.

“If we are going to do well against Ulster we’ll need to improve our set piece defence and we’ll need to make sure we front up,” explained the Titans coach.

“If we do, then we’ll give ourselves every chance.”