Ponty 19 - 19 Knights

In a game that is not only a precursor to the season but a test of the validity of the British and Irish cup Doncaster Knights and Pontypridd cancelled each other out in a chess game of a competition.

No one could challenge the reflection of the result in the game itself as Doncaster Knights and Pontypridd came up equal in all aspects, from collisions to kicking as the two contested the points at Sardis Road. The similarities between the teams were pointed out in the clubhouse before and after and it became one of those occasions were despite a few heated exchanges on the pitch new friendships were forged off it. The welcome for Lynn Howells and Brett Davey pre match showed how the Ponty fans remember their heroes, and even the Doncaster fans were caught up in the cheers.

The early points from Lewis Williams were answered within a moment by Simon Grainger. This set the tone of the afternoon as both sets of big men hit hard and the backs tried to create openings on either side. Grainger displayed sublime timing to intercept a not particularly wayward pass leaving him a straight drive for the line at pace. A mark of the quality of the work done by Scott Pearson in pre season had the stalwart Grainger sprinting for the line, making 20 metres before placing the ball down for the points. Warnock was left with the duty of the conversion which he dispatched with little fuss, a good ecample of a player adjusting tho his new club in the second season.

The tone of the game was a game played without fear, no fear of making mistakes while trying to create expansive rugby. No fear was shownof going in hard as the clubs sounded each other out for the British and Irish Cup. The brand of rugby Howells demands his players create is entertaining, but in the early stages of pre season can create mistakes as the players try the extraordinary, Pontypridd suffered exactly the same fate as they stuck to a gameplan of bringing rugby to Sardis road so there seemed a high rate of mishandling compared to a league game.

Simon Grainger’s interception and try was followed up by club captain Anthony Carter on 12 minutes adding another try to his account. A passage of attacking play led by the forwards of Doncaster upping the work rate was finished by Carter reading the body language of the forwards, taking in the ball as they created the gap. Chris Planchant at this stage seemed to have made few friends with the Valley side, and although he remained in control he will wonder if his welcome will be as tough in the British and Irish Cup as he more than stood his ground with several players he will face as the new competition begins. It was commented in the crowd that he may be as well bringing a spare shirt as a gift to the Cup game as several players seemed determined to take the one he was wearing home as a memento.

10 minutes later Grant Harrington stepped up for Pontypridd to keep both sides needing to find an extra gear to pull away from their opponents. Harrington was driven over the line by the weight of the Valley forwards, an almost mirror image of a try Doncaster have scored time and time again under the Howellls regime. The half finished 12- 14 to Doncaster, and was characterised by expected rustyness of closed season mixed with both sides wanting to put forward the case for entertaining rugby. With little or no indiscipline in the match the only real stoppages had been those for knock ons.

The second half began in a completely different manner. The difference was less of a willingness to try the unusual as a reaction to the half time hairdryer treatment after the mistakes of the first were rerun in the dressing rooms (and on the pitch in the Knights case). Howells decided to keep his team on the pitch during half time preferring to huddle the team together and keep them moving, receiving running repairs. The 3rd quarter of the game begame tactical and positional, only coming to life with the introduction of Ngalu Tau and to the surprise of the crowd a running missile in the shape of Oli Goss.

The introduction of Ponty Legend Ngalu Tau was greeted by loud cheering and applause despite him wearing the red of Doncaster. Several times during the game it seemed almost a testimonial game for the Tongan prop as the fans cheered his every move on and off the pitch. During this time the straight running, pace and unseen strength of Oli Goss came to the front as he stuck his head over the parapet and challenged the Welsh back line to stop him. Stop him they did, but every time he ran in a little harder and this bodes well for his development as a player. Goss received the biggest hit of the game during this passage of play, a testament to the problems the little man caused the Pontypridd defensive line. Seemingly this tackle spurred him on even more As the energy levels dropped somehow Bevon Armitage managed to increase his and after a long period of digging for the ball he came up with a trio of blistering runs into the heart of the Pontypridd defence which eventually came up with a try on 60 minutes. Oli Goss was instrumental in this try, and the man who failed to command a place in the first team last season seems to have been re-educated into a pocket rocket. Brooks had the hardest of angles with the conversion, which he missed by the slimmest of margins.

4 minutes later Nathan Strong gave Pontypridd the draw that even the most partisan would admit they deserved. The final quarter of the game saw the physical side of the sport come to the surface, in some way sparked by the no nonsense running style of Armitage and Goss. Dan Smith seemed determined to to protect Goss from the increasing frustration of the Welsh team which led to heated exchanges on the pitch which limited the amount of rugby that could be played.

Once again the Knights second row became the unsung heroes of the game. Having outperformed their opposite numbers in the line out and kept up the dogged work during the game they seemed to finish the game stronger than anyone else. As Kenworthy took a break from the proceedings we saw the fledgling partnership of Smith and Townson as a glimpse of what could be a glowing future for the Knights in this position.

As bright as this glimpse of the future may be, there was only one man of the match and It was once again the engine of Kenworthy that kept the pack running.

If the British and Irish Cup can be measured on this preview, the competition will create new life for this level of rugby as todays game proved the intensity generated by cross border competition. The Knights will look forward to the next game in South Wales, but will be fully aware all of the skills in the toolbox will need to be brought to Sardis Road if they are to dominate a side that proved their equal in all areas on this day.

Man of the Match

Doncasters Glen Kenworthy.

Doncaster
15 Anthony Carter
14 Andy Wright
13 Chris Briers
12 Steve McColl
11 Ollie Goss
10 Ali Warnock
9 Nicky Griffiths
1 Tom Davies
2 Steve Lawrey
3 Lewis Thiede
4 Glen Kenworthy
5 Dan Smith
6 Bryn Griffiths
7 Simon Grainger
8 Chris Planchant

Pontypridd
15 Mathew Null
14 Lewis Williams
13 Gavin Dacey
12 Dafydd Lockyer
11 Chris Clayton
10 Aaron Bramwell
1 Kristian Baller
2 Huw Dowden
3 Ryan Harford
4 Chris Martenko
5 Grant Harrington
6 Chris Dicomidis
7 Wayne O’Connor
8 Kristian Dacey