Doncaster Knights 37 Newbury 7
Coach Lynn Howells thought this was about the best 80 minutes of rugby that the Knights have played all season. Without their entire first choice back row for the rest of the season, they nevertheless put in a cohesive and committed performance that a lively Newbury side couldn’t live with. Playing with a strong wind in the first half, and with Lissiate Fa’aoso making his home debut on the flank, Doncaster used the conditions well and ran in four tries for the bonus point and a 24-0 half time lead that was always going to be enough against the wind, and the driving rain that arrived later. Brad Hunt started things off after Paul Bailey’s break and lovely inside scoring pass, before the pack stepped up and took Newbury apart with strong driving play that saw two tries come from driven mauls. First Steve Boden was under the pile of bodies to claim his; and then the increasingly impressive Chris Planchant burst off the side of a maul to surprise the defence with a powerful surge to the line. The half ended with Ben Jones darting up the blind side before slipping a lovely inside ball to the supporting Bryn Griffiths who crashed over. In difficult licking conditions Mark Woodrow converted two, and hit a post with another.
Newbury had created chances, none better than when David Rees got through only to be felling with a magnificent tackle from Anthony Carter who played arguably his best match ever in the Knights’ shirt. He was called upon again before the interval when Jonny Hylton was clear, only for Carter to pull off a second try saver.
Into the teeth of the gale after the break, Doncaster controlled the game at close quarters, not allowing Newbury to use the elements behind them. They did cut the lead by seven when Tom Brown picked from a scrum and had an embarrassingly easy stroll to the line; and they could have scored on two further occasions only for the defence to force errors. Cerith Rees came on at ten and had two penalty shots from 30 metres into the wind, and somehow succeeded with both – as he did from the right touchline after the try of the day was scored by Paul Bailey. Coming into the line off his wing he cut a beautiful angle at high speed, stepped two defenders and then raced outside the last defender to race into the right corner. It was a try out of the top drawer to round off a hugely improved Knights’ afternoon in which referee Martin Fox took much credit in allowing both sides to compete in all areas.
Howells expects to welcome two new players during the week ahead to cover for the injury situation; and has also agreed to release Mark Soden whose season of injuries and resultant lack of first team opportunities has been frustrating. The squad gave him a hearty send off on the day he made only a third appearance as a replacement as he seeks new challenges in the South East. Next Saturday the Knights go South themselves to play Esher.
Doncaster: Carter, Bailey Davies W 69), Hunt, Davey, Bishop, Woodrow (Rees 48), Jones (Storey 62), List (Davies T 65), Boden, Tau (Toke 57), Griffiths, Kenworthy, Fa’aoso (Soden 46), Cook (Luke 65), Planchant.
Newbury: Hylton, Rees, Ashwin, Reay (Possserbun 50), Henderson, Walsh (Parkin 59), Smaje (Simpson-Daniel 40), Irish, Fincken (Standfield 40), Thomson (Carter 40), Ashcroft (Payne 40), Radbourne (Doherty 64), Hayter, Morgan, Brown.
Referee: M Fox (RFU)
Photo courtesy of Brian Pollard |
