Doncaster Knights Captain and Backs Coach Justin Bishop had some fantastic news this week, a second chance to play for the Barbarians. Known for their exciting and almost Exhibition quality Rugby, Justin is looking forward to playing 4 years after getting his first “Call Up”.
“I got a chance 4 years ago, but broke my fibula just before the game. It’s always said you never get another chance if you miss your Barbarians game so I feel truly honoured” Justin told us.
Tuesday 18th of March, Bishop will be lining up as a Barbarian at Bedford against a select XV wearing his knights Socks. “A tradition of playing for the Barbarians is wearing you club socks, so this will be the second time the Knights socks have been worn. Tom Davies played for the Barbarians last year”.
Another interesting tradition of the Barbarians is Rugby with no Shirt numbers. “It’s because they play a brand of Rugby that involves a lot of throwing the ball around, a lot of interchanging” Justin explained.
Justin grew up watching real legends like David Campese, JRP Williams and David Duckham playing for the Barbarians, and ranks it as an honour that comes close to his 25 International Caps for Ireland between 1998 and 2004. To be part of an exclusive club that Zinzan Brooke and Jonah Lomu are members of is an absolute privilege.
Fylde welcome old North West friends and rivals Macclesfield to the Woodlands on Saturday (ko 15.00) for what will be, for different reasons, a very important match for both clubs. Fylde continue their efforts to try to get into the top four clubs in National Three (North) whilst Macc are desperately attempting to avoid relegation.
Macclesfield have had a disappointing couple of seasons in the division following a superb 2004/5 when they finished runners-up and lost the promotion play-off game at Launceston. They finished 9th in 2005/6 & 2006/7 and in both seasons flirted with relegation before pulling themselves around. This time it looks harder as they’re in the third relegation place and battling furiously with Morley, one place below them in 13th place, and chasing a number of clubs including West Park and Bradford & Bingley who are four points in front.
Up to early November when Macc were roundly defeated 20-41 by Fylde in what was probably the Lancashire side’s best attacking display of the season, they hadn’t won a game and were anchored at the bottom of the table, looking certain relegation candidates. However, following that defeat the team really started to improve and recorded seven wins in nine games including fine wins against promotion contenders Rugby Lions and Hull Ionians. Losing at home to Tynedale by only 13-19 last Saturday showed how much the squad has developed since that black day in early November. They pressed the outstanding league leaders hard and were rather unfortunate not to pull off a shock win.
Like Fylde, in October Macc jettisoned their head coach, former Fylde fly-half star Steve Burnage, who was in his second season at Priory Park, and replaced him with Steve Mannion. He’s assisted by forwards coach Andy Rice who is their long standing scrum-half. Between them and the players they’ve made a real difference to their form and league record.
There’s little doubt that they’ve missed skipper and highly influential former Manchester tighthead prop Rob Bieniasz who has missed most of the season with a back injury. However, ex-Orrell skipper Matt Collie has provided expert cover.
The Macclesfield pack is a combative group of players featuring experienced performers such as lock/no 8 Jeremy Bostock, former Launceston lock Neil Keane, prop Ben Latham (ex-Manchester & Vale of Lune) and utility backrower Oliver Hewitt.
The fulcrum of their back line is former Orrell, Plymouth & Wakefield fly-half Ross Winney. Apart from orchestrating Macc’s attack he is a very competent goal kicker with 157 points to date this season, 4th in the N3N list of top scorers, ahead of Fylde’s John Armstrong who is 7th with 134 points. They each have a comparable success rate of 63%. One of the architects of Macc’s near promotion achievement in 2004/5, New Zealander Mike Newell, returned to the Club in the late autumn but his appearances have been hampered by a prolonged knee injury. He has been joined by fellow Kiwi, lock or no 8 Reubin Harvey.
Other influential backs are former Halifax centre Richard Hughes & Sale Jet’s utility player Fergus Mulchrone. Ex-Fylde fullback Phil Macey, who was a student at UCLAN, had been having a good season until a serious knee injury a few weeks ago ruled him out of this campaign.
Fylde will check on skipper Roger Banks, who suffered a deep head cut against West Park last Saturday, and prop Darren Clark who also retired through injury at Red Rocks. Centre Alex Hurst will be in the selection frame if his injured ankle has recovered, as will record try scorer Nick Royle who is expected to have overcome an arm injury. This will give the rugby managers a pleasant selection headache in the backs amongst whom Lewis Boyd had a particularly good game as a replacement for Royle against West Park.
The Chiefs secured a place in the EDF Energy National Trophy semi-final with a comprehensive victory over Surrey side Esher. The match seemed a potential banana skin as Esher had nothing to lose, having all but secured safety in National League One on the back of an impressive display against Northampton. However, Chiefs negotiated the threat with efficiency in what was a dominant performance at Sandy Park.
Chiefs were quickly into their stride and the opening exchanges gave an insight into what was to be a long 80 minutes for the Esher side. The Chiefs’ first lineout saw the ball secured and mauled 20 yards up the field. The ball was then transferred along the backline with Gary Kingdom bursting through a well-created gap in the defence. His ball to Jason Luff was poor, forcing the winger to check his run and step inside. However quick feet saw Luff burst through a gap untouched for a try that was easily converted by Kingdom and the Chiefs were into a 7-0 lead inside the first minute.
Chiefs were completely dominant in the early territorial exchanges, with regular line breaks puncturing the Esher defence. Good strength from Junior Fatialofa nearly created another score for the Chiefs but Luff was just unable to offload the ball with a try looking inevitable. The Chiefs did not have to wait long however to add to their score as a penalty from Kingdom from in front of the posts stretched the lead to 10-0 after 18 minutes. By this stage it seemed infringement was the only way Esher could halt the Chiefs attacking intent, with several penalties being conceded in a short space of time. One such penalty created a chance for Kingdom to kick at goal which he converted confidently. Moments later another infringement caused Lee Stirling, the Esher flanker, to be sent to the sin-bin.
With only 14 men, Esher found it even harder to contain the Chiefs. Another powerful break from Junior Fatiolofa was halted just yards short of the line. The Chiefs forwards had the presence of mind to remain composed and after a couple of phases of slow ball, Chad Slade was able to dive over the line from the base of a ruck. Kingdom failed to convert but the Chiefs went into half-time pleased with their structured performance and their 18-0 lead on the scoreboard.
Esher had showed little attacking intent in the first half and the visitors’ appeared determined to rectify this with Charlie Amesbury making good ground from a darting run early in the half. Despite this, the Chiefs did not lose momentum and retained the territorial advantage of the first period. In the 49th minute, a strong and patient maul by the Chiefs forwards forced Sam Blythe over the line for an unconverted try that pushed Chiefs into the comfort zone.
As the game entered the last quarter, both sides opened up in an attempt to play some expansive rugby, which was made possible by the dry day and hard ground. Exeter’s increasing confidence was clear to see, but it was one inaccurate expansive move that led to the Chiefs forcing the ball out of the tackle near to the touchline. Danny Gray, who showed several touches of class during the afternoon, just managed to keep the ball in play flicking the ball out of the back of his hand releasing Lewis Stevenson who offloaded to Kevin Barrett, who had the speed to reach the line. Kingdom converted the try and pushed Chiefs into a 30-0 lead.
With the result in no doubt both teams made several substitutions in order to rest players for upcoming matches.
Esher then gained a deserved reward for their spirited defence with a try of their own in the 68th minute. Neil Hallett showed good speed and strength to finish an elegant move from the visitors which was well converted by fly-half Dave Hewitt.
The last few minutes saw a try from the excellent Junior Fatialofa, who showed he had speed and agility to go with his obvious strength stepping inside the full-back to score under the posts. Kingdom converted this try and then rounded off an excellent day for the Chiefs with a try of his own in the last minute. His missed kick meant the score stayed at 42-7 but none of the Chiefs supporters were grumbling after a good victory in a competition that looks set to prove Exeter’s most realistic chance of silverware this season.
Teams:Exeter Chiefs – Kingdom; Luff, J Fatialofa, Kelly, Ward; Gray (M Fatialofa 64mins), Barrett; Parkes (Kingsland 56mins), Blythe (Nelson 56mins), Dunlea, Hanks, Stevenson, Slade (Johnson 56mins), Andy Miller (Alan Miller 64mins), Baxter (capt).
Esher – Flockhart; Moore (Hallett 54mins), Armitage, Henderson (Clouston 68mins), Amesbury; Hewitt (Sleman 68mins), Barr; Cormack (capt)(Smith 68mins), Campbell, Warren, Inglis (Butterworth 68mins), Blakeburn, Soden, Stirling, Barrell.
Scorers:Exeter Chiefs – Tries: Luff, Slade, Blythe, Barrett, Junior Fatialofa, Kingdom; Cons: Kingdom (3); Pens: Kingdom (2).
Esher – Try: Hallett; Con: Hewitt.
Southend played a disappointing game against Manchester in National Division Two on Saturday. The evening performance was played beneath the floodlights at Warner’s Bridge but the home advantage was not forthcoming in a match which finished 8:39 in Manchester’s favour.
It was Manchester who opened the scoring with a penalty in the thirteenth minute. Until then Southend had held their own and game was looking positive for the Seasiders. Winger, Gareth Wynne, kicked the goal for the visitors first the three points of the contest.
Southend were first to score from a try. The glory came for Andrew Frost playing on the wing. A lineout was secured by Southend and the ball was taken in by the forwards. As multiphase ball was set up the ball again emerged and was shipped to the awaiting back. A burst through by Faapolou Soolefai gained precious ground before heading for Frost who, with a change of angled, fell toward the line, his momentum seeing over into the try area. Simon Hoult just missed out on the conversion leaving Southend 5:3 ahead.
In the twenty sixth minute Southend pressured the visitors into a penalty within reach of the upright. Frost stepped up to take the conversion from in front of the posts adding an easy extra 3 points for an 8:3 lead.
The disappointment came in the second half when Manchester led the onslaught giving Southend rarely an opportunity to enter the game.
Two minutes after the whistle Manchester had equalised with a try. Winger, Kuadey, saw the gap in the Southend defence in front of the posts and leapt at the chance to put himself through. The conversion by Wynne took them two points into the lead.
Before the fiftieth minute Manchester had again crossed the line, this time it was scrum half, James Bramhall who grounded the ball for the five points. Unconverted the score now stood at 8:15.
Less than ten minutes later and the visitors were edging dangerously away as number 8, Sebastian Moss dived over a ruck on Southend’s line to bring in another try. As Wynne converted is was becoming clearer who was in charge of this game.
Kuadey secured his second try a futher ten minutes on as the Manchester appeared to overpower Southend in many areas of play. Southend fought back gallantly but were unable to finish off leaving all the second half scoring their opponents.
Manchester’s inside centre, Rawlings, ran in a try in the final ten minutes of play with these point followed by two penalty opportunities taken advantage of by Wynne to bring the final score to 8:39.
Despite the setback Southend are determined to examine their performance during training this week and make the necessary improvements for the next league game against Waterloo.
Fylde came out on top in this hard and tetchy Lancashire derby and move up to 5th place in National Three (North) in consequence. Although their backs showed greater penetration than those of the home team and led for the majority of the game, West Park didn’t give up easily. They fought back and were ahead for a 12 minute period early in the second half. But Fylde’s forwards battled back despite losing skipper Roger Banks with a nasty cut head after 39 minutes and being reduced to six due to sin binnings for Dan Bowman and Nick King.
West Park opened the scoring on 9 minutes when a Fylde player was caught offside at a ruck and Andrew Soutar kicked a straightforward penalty. Just three minutes later Fylde replied with a well worked try. The visitor’s pack drove down the midfield and Richard Kenyon made a clean break through Park’s defence. He was caught and possession was turned over with a Park clearance kick to touch. Unfortunately it didn’t reach it’s intended destination. Fylde fullback John Armstrong ran the ball back and and passed to winger Lewis Boyd. The young Cumbrian cut a beautiful line and sped through the heart of the Park defence to score under the posts. Fylde are fortunate to have such a talented player as a stand-in for record try scorer Nick Royle who missed the game through an arm injury. John Armstrong converted the try for a 7-3 lead.
By this time the Fylde pack was really warming to its task. This is a big, powerful unit and when they’re able to get the bit between their teeth then they’re a real force to be reckoned with. They showed this on 17 minutes when a driving maul went 25 metres over the West Park try line and ended with prop Darren Clark the last man up. This was Clark’s second try for the Club in 43 appearances. This made it 12-3 to Fylde as Armstrong missed the conversion kick.
But, predictably, West Park were in no mood to surrender control for the rest of the 1st half. They came back strongly and a second Soutar penalty on 31 minutes reduced the deficit. Park now took the game to Fylde and a couple of midfield breaks, led by former Fylde centre Dave Cunliffe, went close. But Fylde defended well and repelled the series of attacks to close the half in front at 12-6.
An unfortunate and deep head cut to skipper Roger Banks who was raked by a Park forward required him to be taken to hospital just before the half-time whistle. Like a number of national league clubs West Park didn’t have a doctor present to attend to the wound so that was the end of his match. Whether such a lack of medical cover at this senior semi-professional level is acceptable is a matter of debate. One only hopes that any well intentioned treatment by the required 1st aid trained person in a future game doesn’t lead to litigation. The experienced Cumbrian county captain Dan Bowman replaced Banks in the backrow with Sam Beaumont switching to no 8.
Although the 2nd half began in much the same way as the 1st, with Fylde in control, West Park rocked the visitors on 48 minutes. They broke away down field and excellent inter-passing between forwards and backs led to scrum-half Phil Webster scoring a good try. Soutar converted and Park were in front again at 13-12.
The game was now boiling up and there was a 20 minute period of bad tempered play. In his season at the Woodlands Dave Cunliffe showed himself to be an aggressive and ‘in your face’ player who took no prisoners. His snarling style was appreciated in certain respects by Fylde supporters but they saw the other side of it in this game. He was sinbinned on 55 minutes for foul play and Fylde took due advantage. A drive by their pack on 60 minutes saw Sam Beaumont held up over the line. From the subsequent scrum Oliver Brennand sneaked in at the left corner for his 22nd try of the season. John Armstrong then kicked a superb conversion from the touchline to stretch his side’s lead to 19-13.
Only two minutes later the game took a turn for the worse for the visitors when Dan Bowman was shown a yellow card for foul play. On 66 minutes matters became critical for Fylde as lock Nick King was adjudged to have pulled down a Park line-out jumper and joined Bowman in the bin. From the subsequent kick to touch and lineout near the Fylde line the West Park drove over against the opposing six man pack and flanker Matt Williams claimed the try. Soutar missed the conversion so Fylde led by the closest of margins at 19-18.
But the weakened Fylde forwards then put in a sterling effort which proved to be the turning point in the game. They drove up the middle of the pitch and scrum-half Aikman broke right. He did another delightful switch pass, this time to fullback Armstrong who sidestepped his way past a couple of Park defenders to score under the posts. He converted his own excellent try and put his side 8 points clear. In so doing, he also earned a bonus point for Fylde with their 4th try of the afternoon.
Soon afterwards Fylde were back to 15 men and they held the late advances of West Park at bay. The game ended with a deserved win against a game and redoubtable team who never seems to know when they are beaten. The cuts and bruises picked up in this tough 80 minutes will heal and the visitor’s coaches and players will look back on this game as a hard job well done.
Blaydon’s decision to spend £7000 on hiring a private jet to get them to Cornwall and back in a day proved a massive success from an organisational point of view, but disappointingly failed to produce the right result on the field.
In what was a very even game Blaydon had more then enough chances to have grabbed control, particularly just after the break when with the score at 8-7 a Jason Smithson try was disallowed.
Redruth had earlier opened the scoring through Meredith their centre and then a Cozens penalty, but right on the interval Blaydon top try scorer Andy Fenby latched onto a charge down and skated through to score under the posts, Dan Kyle converting.
Although Blaydon were to dominate the opening 10 minutes of the second period, their best spell of the game, ultimately it was a failure to retain possession that proved their downfall.
Both Viddicombe and Cooper took full advantage when Blaydon spilled it in their own half, and fly-half Cozens was on target with both conversions and a penalty.
In the closing stages however it was again all Blaydon and after Adam Dehaty had chipped the defence to pull back a superb solo score, Kyle converting, a late break by Martin Shaw produced a 2 man overlap that should have earned the visitors at least a bonus point.
Redruth just about deserved their win but Blaydon’s enterprise in flying from Newcastle to Newquay is surely the way ahead for these long distance encounters.
With the Knight’s players enjoying their first weekend break of the season, it is perhaps opportune to reflect on the season to date. Back in the summer there was a lot of excitement in the air as the Knights had just signed former Wales coach Lynn Howells as their new Director of Rugby and former Irish international winger Justin Bishop as their backs coach and player. This coupled with the arrival of Scottish international flanker Scott Gray put everyone in a very positive mood for the approaching season.
Having finished third last season, the Knights had expectations of a similar finish even though the relegation from the premiership of Northampton Saints, with their £2mn parachute payment, made them the odds on favourite to win the league. However, with the attraction of their superstar back division, led by the All Black legend Carlos Spencer, boded well for the crowds at every ground they visited.
The Saints and the Knights were the early leaders as both won their first six matches. Strangely the Knights were at their best away from home where they put in superb performances away at Coventry, Newbury and Nottingham whilst looking strangely lethargic in front of their own crowd against just promoted Esher and Cornish All Blacks (Launceston) and previous season’s strugglers Pertemp Bees.
And then the crunch came – the Knights away against the Saints at Franklin Gardens in front of a crowd over over 11,000. What a game it was – for the first 20 minutes the Knights pack took the game to the Saints and were hardly ever out of their half scoring a try through Scott Gray in the process. However the Saints showed their strength which was their ability to score tries from the slightest opportunity and it was their recent signing from Rugby League giants Wigan Chris Ashton who lead the way with a try from deep inside his own half. The final score of 39 points to 17 to the Saints was not a true reflection of the game as exemplified by the fact that the Knights were denied a try as the game went into injury time before seeing Scottish international Sean Lamont break away from his own goal line to score the game’s final try.
Then it was a simple away victory against strugglers Sedgley Park before another first for the Knights – live on Sky TV on a Friday evening against Plymouth Albion which the Knights won by 19 points to 13, a match they should have won by more. Still what an experience for everyone –players, managements, Castle Park staff and supporters alike – we felt as if we had hit the big time.
After a lack lustre victory away at Moseley, the Knights were brought down to earth with a bang as they lost narrowly at home to Cornish Pirates by 16 points to 12 in a match they could, and should, have won. But the following week it was back on track as the Knights won away for the first time against Bedford Blues by 16 points to 14, a victory made all the more sweeter by the fact that Bedford, with its infamous slope, is probably one of the hardest places in the league to come away from with a victory.
The Knights then beat London Welsh at home by 22 points to 3 and then it was another crunch match, a local derby at home to Rotherham Titans. With South Yorkshire bragging rights up for grabs it was the Knights who came up trumps with an excellent 39 points to 15 victory, probably their biggest margin in recent times, and making that four consecutive victories over their neighbours.
The first half of the season finished with a journey to fellow high fliers Exeter Chiefs and the Knights were well beaten by the powerful home pack by 26 points to 8 in a game they set off with high hopes of winning. What this game proved was that you have to step up to the mark every time and take nothing for granted as the Chiefs scored 3 of their 4 tries from driving mauls from close in lineouts.
The second half of the season started with the return fixture against struggling Coventry and the Knights never showed any form losing by 25 points to 17 against a side they had comfortably beaten three months earlier. What made the defeat even more hard to take as it marked the break-up of the Club’s outstanding back row. Firstly skipper Glen Wilson was forced to withdraw on the eve of the match with a career threatening back injury; during the match Scott Gray badly damaged his knee and, although he played on, he subsequently needed a major rebuilding operation; and then openside flanker Simon Grainger, unusually lethargic against Coventry, aggrevated a back injury three days after the match in the gym and this is likely to keep him out until the end of March.
The Knights regrouped with young Chris Planchant in particular putting in some good performances and the arrival of Tongan internationals prop Toma Toke and lock Lisiate Fa’aoso, fresh from the World Cup, lifted spirits. Five consecutive wins, including two outstanding performances at home against Newbury and Nottingham, both of whom had run Northampton close, and more than competent victories away at Launceston and Esher. For good measure Richmond, runaway leaders of London Division One, we beaten by a weak Knights side in the EDF National Trophy.
And then the Knights pressed the self-destruct button. Away against bottom of the table Pertemp Bees, they scored their first try after only 21 seconds, a second after 6 minutes and missed other numerous scoring chances in the next 15 minutes. However the home side dug in, scored three tries and the Knights were staring defeat in the face. Although they fought back and scored a third try the Bees denied them possession and counted the clock down for an unlikely victory that left Lynn Howells spitting blood.
Fate was not too knid to the Knights at this point as they were drawn at home to Northampton in the next round of the EDF National Trophy immediately before their return league match against the Saints. Although both games were lost – the Trophy game by 17 points to 3 and the league match by 36 points to 10 – the Knights stuck to their task and gave the Saints as good as they got in the pack. However it was in the backs that the Saints stars Carlos Spencer, Bruce Reihana, Jon Clarke and Chris Ashton gave the Knights an object lesson in making the most of every opportunity that came their way.
With 8 matches left the Knights were left to regroup again and Lynn Howells set them a target of winning every game if they want to match last season’s finishing position. They started well with a comprehensive 41 points to 12 home victory over Sedgley Park but with away trips to Plymouth, Cornish Pirates, Rotherham and London Welsh on the horizon, as well as 2nd placed Exeter at home, Howell’s target is a one that the Knights will have to be at their peak to achieve.
On a beautiful Sunday morning, Deeping U14’s decided to start the match early, and score inside the first couple of minutes with a planned back’s move from a five metre scrum. As demonstrated throughout the game, the superior Deepings pack managed to secure good ball, and an inside pass in the backs to Paul Clarke saw him weave his way to the try line for the first score.
Deepings first up defence, which proved all day that it was more than the measure anything Oadby could throw at them, created the second try from turnover play, which resulted in Jay Ede breaking from his own half, and two hand-off’s later crossing the Oadby line. From probably the best play of the day, with the ball switching between almost all the backs, from deep inside Deeping’s half, the resulting pressure led to Harry Wells diving over from the back of a ruck 2 metres from the line. Half time score 17-0.
Despite the score, Oadby were still competing, although being made to be second best, especially in the scrum by the better drilled Deepings pack. Also, any forward momentum was stopped around the rucks by Adam Fox, or wider outside by Matthew Knight, who pulled off a Mick “the munch” Skinner tackle which saw his opposite number driven back a good 7 metres from inside to outside the 22. Next try came from a win against the head in a scrum inside Oadby’s 22, with Paul Clarke arcing run outside the Oadby winger to score in the left corner. This corner was to become very popular, with Jack Hart following up in the same corner after a splendid 30 metre run by Jay Ede to spin through the last desperate tackles of the Oadby defence.
Harry Wells then got onto the act again in the same corner, taking a good line out outside the Oadby 22, and running straight through the Oadby backline to the try line.
Jay Ede finished off the scoring with another good break, easily outstripping the Oadby defence. David Cooper converted 2 of the tries.
After the disappointment of losing the NLD semi-final to Derby in their last match, the U14’s put in their best team performance since last year’s tour win at Preston Grasshoppers. As a result, there was no man of the match, as the coaches, and spectators could not single anybody out on a day, when team work got the result. Both the forwards with their scrum, and the back’s with their variety of play’s demonstrated that team work win matches!
For their National Division One game at home to struggling Sedgley Park, Doncaster’s Director of Rugby Lynn Howells initially made four changes from the side that had started the previous week’s match against Northampton Saints. These were Wez Davies at full back in place of Anthony Carter; Donavan Van Vuuren on the wing in place of player-coach Justin Bishop; Tom Davies at prop in place of Richard List and Ollie Cook at flanker for the injured James Jones. However, during the course of the warm-up, centre Spencer Davey pulled his hamstring which meant a recall for Bishop with Tom Luke coming in on the bench.
The ground conditions were absolutely perfect for the match which lead to a number of comments about the Doncaster Rovers game in the nearby £15mn Keepmote Stadium being called off due to the ground being too hard. After an initial scare from the kick-off, the Knights soon secured a line out 5 metres from the visitor’s line and, from the resultant driving maul, big flanker Bryn Griffiths crashed over for a try that was converted by flyhalf Mark Woodrow. Sedgley Park were now into full defensive mode as they strung defenders across the field and their tactics worked for the next 20 minutes as the Knights struggled to breakdown the resolute Manchester side. With 20 minutes gone Knight’s giant USA international lock Luke Gross left the field with a calf strain and he was replaced by Tongan World Cup star Lisiate Fa’aoso. Shortly afterwards Woodrow kicked a penalty for the Knights from 25 metre when the visitors were penalised for playing the ball after a tackle. With the Knights failing to play their phases, Sedgley Park held out against wave after wave of Doncaster attacks and it looked as if they were going to hold out until half-time. However well into injury time former Knight’s lock Ed Norris, now with Sedgley, was penalised for deliberately killing the ball at a ruck 25 metres out from his own posts and he was sent to the sin bin. From the resultant penalty Woodrow kicked the goal that took his side into a 13 points to 0 half-time lead.
Whatever Howells said to his team at halftime obviously worked as they came out firing on all cylinders as they took advantage of their numerical superiority to score three tries in nine minutes. From a lineout on the halfway line, flanker Cook turned up in midfield and made a bullocking 30 metre run through the Sedgley defence and then feeding the ball to Fa’aoso who brushed aside tacklers before crashing over 15 metres to the left of the posts for a try that Woodrow converted. The kick-off was gathered by Fa’aoso and the ball was moved across field to Van Vuuren on the left wing, A ruck was formed and the ball then moved across the field to the right where a move featuring giant Tongan prop Ngalu Ta’u (twice) and Fa’aoso ended with winger Paul Bailey racing over for a try that Woodrow again converted. With Norris desperate to get back on the field, the Knights cut loose again. The visitors lost control of a wheeled scrum 20 metres from their line and Griffiths picked up the loose ball to race to the try line taking several defenders over with him in the process. This try, Griffith’s second, gave the Knights a bonus point and Woodrow his sixth successful kick of the afternoon. At this point both sides were making liberal use of their replacements with Doncaster’s other Tongan international prop Toma Toke making an immediate impact with a bruising charge from a lineout. The game came slightly loose for a while with Doncaster prop Tom Davies being sin binned for entering a ruck inside his own 22 from the side. It was now the visitors turn to try to make use of their numerical superiority and they did so when, with their best attack of the match, they worked full back Chris Hall into space to score about halfway out to the right. Jones conversion attempt was unsuccessful and this was his side’s last scoring chance for a while as the Knight’s defence closed down any attacking opportunity that they had. Back at full strength, the Knights were awarded a penalty in front of the Sedgley posts and they opted for a scrum. The ball was cleanly won and moved quickly to the left by Dan Storey (on at scrum half for Ben Jones) to fly half Cerith Rees (on for Woodrow) to Tom Luke (on for Bishop) who took two defenders with him as he scored a try that Rees converted. With the game deep into injury time, Sedgley took advantage of some poor Knight’s tackling, firstly to make inroads into the Doncaster half and then when fullback Hall burst through 40 metres out before feeding the ball to his supporting winger Chris Briers who scored a deserved consolation try. Fly half Phil Jones conversion was the final score as the referee blew time on a match that had been played throughout in a good spirit and on an excellent pitch that was a credit to the Knight’s ground staff and the investment that had been put into it over the years.
After the match Lynn Howells said that he was pleased with his side’s overall performance coming so soon after his side’s two bruising encounters with Northampton. Although the first half had not been outstanding he said that praise had to be given to the Sedgley defence who had bravely withstood wave after wave of Doncaster attacks. He said that his side had upped the tempo in the second half and the visitors had then not been able to live with the home side as they showed their full range of attacking abilities.
Doncaster Knights: W Davies; P. Bailey; B Hunt; J Bishop (T Luke 61); D Van Vuuren; M Woodrow (C Rees 66); B Jones (D Storey 66); T Davies; S Boden (B Phillips 50); N Ta’u (T Toke 53); G Kenworthy; L Gross (L Fa’aoso 16); B Griffiths; C Planchant; O Cook (sub not used R List)
Sedgley Park: C Hall; J Van Deventer; A Craig (F Payne 69); L Burrell; C Briers; P Jones; C Leck (D White 72); P Gazzola (A Livsey 65); J Roddam (P Keys 58); P Du Plessis (D Birchall 70); E Norris (G Townson 60); J Crous
Chiefs knew they would be in for a tough game against Newbury, as they had previously struggled to win 11-6 against them in their encounter at Sandy Park last October. On a sunny, but cold afternoon, the tone of the game was set out in the opening five minutes with a series of turnovers from both sides.
Chiefs opened the score account after nine minutes with a Tony Yapp penalty in front of the posts, after Newbury were penalised for not rolling away. The Chiefs escaped when a penalty kick from Newbury captain and fly-half Tim Walsh hit the post. Luckily, there were no follow up runners. Newbury inside centre Andy Reay looked to be Newbury’s main threat with some darting runs from inside his own half.
The first try came for Chiefs in the 22nd minute when Josh Drauniniu took the ball from the halfway line and used his acceleration to round Newbury’s defence for his 17th try of the season. Yapp subsequently kicked the conversion to make the score 0-10.
All was looking good for a Chiefs win, then a crucial decision from referee Ashley Rowden saw him judge that Newbury full-back Jonny Hylton to have grounded his chip and chase just before the deadball line. Walsh converted the try to make the score 7-10.
On 35 minutes, Craig Dunlea was penalised for coming up in the scrum. Walsh seized the opportunity to bring the Blues back to level with a penalty kick. Just before half-time ,Chiefs’ supporters were surprised to see Yapp, who is nearing the 1,500 point mark miss an opportunity to put Exeter back in the lead.
Newbury started the second half buoyed after overcoming their earlier 10-point deficit. In the 52minute, Exeter Chiefs’ lock Lewis Stevenson was sent to the bin for coming in from the side. From the next scrum, referee Rowden helpfully blocked the run of Newbury No 8 Tom Brown. The retaken scrum saw the ball was released to the backs with full-back Hylton coming into the line and providing right winger Martin Nutt with the space to put Newbury in the lead for the first time in the game. Walsh kicked the conversion from the touchline.
Five minutes later, Brown was on another big run and looking to link with his backs. Drauniniu seized the opportunity to get his 18th try of the season with an interception from the half-way line. The big contingent of Chiefs’ fans felt relieved when Yapp converted to bring Chiefs back to 17-17.
In the 62nd minute, Chiefs substitute James Hanks was sin-binned for a technical infringement. Walsh responded for Newbury kicking the resulting penalty, taking Newbury back into the lead 20-17.
It did not look like being Chiefs day when Hylton, who had a great performance, dinked a little kick over oncoming tacklers to score in the corner. The score was now 25-17 and it looked like the Chiefs were going to get nothing from the game.
Chiefs tried to fight back and managed to stay in the Newbury half for a period of time. Junior Fatialofa almost created a try for Hanks in the last five minutes bur the Chiefs’ second row was brought down tantalizingly close to the try line.
Chiefs secured a bonus point, with a 78th minute Yapp penalty kick (who is now seven points away from the 1,500 landmark). This was little consolation for a side who would have aimed to secure more from the visit to Newbury.
Scorers:
Newbury Blues – Tries: Hylton (2), Nutt; Cons: Walsh (2); Pens: Walsh (2).Exeter Chiefs – Tries: Drauninu (2); Cons: Yapp(2) ; Pens: Yapp(2).Teams: Exeter Chiefs – Marsden; Luff, J Fatialofa, Kelly, Drauniniu; Yapp, Stuart-Smith (Barrett 64mins); Kingsland (Parkes 50mins), Blythe (Nelson 72mins), Dunlea (Horn-Smith 78mins), Bentley (Hanks 60mins), Stevenson, Johnson (Slade 69mins), Miller, Baxter (capt). Newbury Blues – Hylton; Henderson, Rees (Pennycook 60mins), Reay, Nutt: Walsh (Capt), Smaje (Simpson-Daniel 72mins): Irish, Fincken, Thompson, Ascroft-Leigh, Chance, Morgan, Abbott (Tombleson 60mins), Brown.
