Newbury 11 Doncaster 30
Doncaster travelled to Newbury without their two internationals - prop Ngalu Tau (Tonga) and John Cannon (Canada), both of whom were being rested after last week’s game against Rotherham. At prop, Richard List returned after being a concussion victim four weeks ago. At centre, Doncaster brought back Brad Hunt for his first game since undergoing ankle surgery in the autumn. Winger Donavon Van Vuuren played with his shoulder heavily strapped following his injury against Rotherham. The game was important for both sides as it continued an intense rivalry that has now been going on for four seasons as the two clubs have climbed the leagues together.
Doncaster kicked off into a strong westerly wind and set their stall out immediately with two good 30 metre driving mauls as they elected to take on Newbury up front. From the second maul, Newbury were penalised in front of their posts and skipper Rob Liley put Doncaster ahead with a simple penalty. Newbury took play into the Doncaster 22 but the visitors defended well before breaking away to put pressure on the home side again. They gained a lineout just outside the Newbury 22 and drove towards the posts as scrum half Llyr Lane linked well with his pack before forcing the home side to concede another penalty. Liley’s kick from 22 metres put Doncaster 6 points ahead. Newbury came back into the game and for the next 10 minutes kept play inside the Doncaster half but they were unable to penetrate their all-consuming defence. With 23 mins gone, Doncaster gained possession 35 metres out and yet another rolling maul took play to within 5 metres of the Newbury line before flanker Russ Earnshaw broke out to score in the corner. Newbury came straight back and flyhalf Duncan Bell kicked a simple penalty for them from 22 metres out. Almost from the kick-off Newbury were penalised, Lane took a quick penalty midfield and linked with Earnshaw who put centre Michael Wood on a 35 metre diagonal run to the line for Doncaster’s second try. Using the wind, Newbury gained a foothold on the Doncaster 22 where Bell kicked his second penalty for the home side. As the game approached injury time, Newbury won possession just inside his own half, flyhalf Bell chipped over the flat Doncaster defence down a wide blindside, gathered his own kick and then chipped over Doncaster fullback Jon Boden where Kenny Bingham picked up and dived over for his side’s only try.
Doncaster started the second half with the advantage of the strong wind but failed to capitalise on it as Newbury took the game back to them. After 50 minutes Charlie Harrison came on for Doncaster at scrum half in place of Llyr Lane. After 56 minutes Newbury replaced wing Richard Briggs, who was having a poor game against his old club, with Liam Gibson. Almost immediately Doncaster won possession midfield just inside the Newbury half and, after good interplay between backs and forwards, wing Van Vuuren broke clear and drew full back Bingham before giving Wood a clear run to the posts and Liley and easy conversion. The next 15 minutes were fought out midfield with Doncaster incurring the wrath of the referee on a number of occasions. With 5 mins to play, Doncaster put Newbury under intense pressure 15 metres from the line, hooker Boden caught the home scrum half in possession and No 8 Dan Montagu was on hand to gather the ball and dive over for his side’s fourth try and a bonus point. Liley’s excellent conversion from near the touch line gave his side a well deserved 30 points to 11 win and their first away victory of the season.
Doncaster’s 5 point win enabled the club to jump over both Newbury and London Welsh to 10th place as the club fight their way to respectability in their first season in National One. Highlights were a tremendous forward display in the first half particularly coupled with some outstanding defence against a team that is widely regarded as one of the best attacking side in the league. For their part Doncaster showed many signs of being a real force to be reckoned with next season with 4 wins on the trot now. Next Saturday a chance to relax as the Netherlands national team visit Castle Park for a match as part of their World Cup build up.
Newbury
(15) Kenny Bingham (14) Richard Briggs (Liam Gibson 56): (13) Reuben Aiono; (12) Gavin Turner; (11) Tom Tombleson; (10) Duncan Bell; (9) Dan Smaje (Mark Simpson-Daniel 35); (1) Simon Carter (Rob Faulkner 48) ; (2) Glen Cooper (Andrew Dalgleish 35); (3) Neil Collins; (4) Chris Hart; (5) Tom Radbourne; (6) Luke Walters (James Jones 23); (7) Simon Gully; (8) Chris Cracknell
Doncaster
(15) Jon Boden; (14) Oliver Cook; (13) Matt Wood; (12) Brad Hunt; (11) Donavon Van Vuuren; (10) Rob Liley (Jon Benson 75); (9) Llyr Lane (Charlie Harrison 53); (1) Richard List (Steve Barretto 60); (2) Steve Boden (Jon Roddam 75); (3) Simon Bunting (Tom Davies 35); (4) Glen Kenworthy; (5) Ed Norris (Jimmy Rule 65); (6) Russell Earnshaw (Ryan Peacey 69); (7) Simon Grainger; (8) Dan Montagu.
Referee: B Robertson (RFU)
