Knights vs Exeter

Team News:

Doncaster: S McColl, C Briers, H Tonga'uiha, B Armitage, M Williams, A Warnock, C Hallam, T Davies, S Boden, N Tau, B Griffiths, G Townson, N Cochrane (C), S Grainger, C Planchant.
Replacements: M Cusack, S Lawrie, S Corsar, A Boyde, A Kettle, M D'arcy, A Carter.

Exeter: E Lewis, M Jess, P Dollman, M Cornwell, M Foster, G Steenson, H Thomas, B Sturgess, N Clark, C Budgen, T Hayes (C), J Hanks, F Slade, J Scaysbrook, R Baxter.
Replacements: S Alcott, B Moon, C Bentley, T Johnson, C Stuart-Smith, D Gray, P McKenzie.

Live Updates to follow.

3 mins: Good break down the right flank by Chris Briers is ended illegally as an Exeter player is punished for interferance. The Knights win their line out just shy of Exeter's 22, the ball has been spread left and lost which allows Exeter to kick clear down field. (0-0)

6 mins: Exeter penalised just short of halfway, Bryn Griffiths takes the ball from the resutling line out and after a Warnock high kick is knocked on, possesion is retained immediately and spread left to Matty Williams to attack down the left. (0-0)

9 mins: Exeter have their first line out in Doncaster's half and the ball is secured, as the ball comes to Steenson, the fly half puts a kick over the top for Mark Foster to chase, but the wall wins the race and goes dead. (0-0)

14 mins: Knights penalised in the scrum, as a result Exeter have a line out inside Doncaster's 22, the ball has been secured and the forwards are picking and going to the line, now only metres short the visiting side are penalised and the Knights can clear from their own line. (0-0)

16 mins: McColl's kick from his own line is poor and gets punished as the Exeter full back runs the ball back and earns a penalty for his side as the Knights were penalised for going in at the side. Steenson made no mistake from right in front of the posts. (0-3)

21 mins: After a succession of kicking by both teams, Exeter are trying the run the ball up their right flank and after having limited success they've switched to the left flank and have earned a penalty as the Knights are penalised for the second time for going in at the side. Steenson has decided to go for the kick from outwide, and makes no mistake. (0-6)

26 mins: Stevie McColl takes a quick line out on his 22 to Bevon Armitage who makes good ground upfield before finding Chris Hallam who makes it into Exeter's half, unfortunately the move is ended as Chris Planchant just couldn't take in the next pass. (0-6)

28 mins: Exeter penalised for not rolling away, McColl fails to find touch as the ball hits an Exeter player but the Knights get a bit of luck as the man in front picks the ball up in a clear offside position. As a result Chris Hallam has put in at the scrum midway into the visitors half, Exeter are then penalised at the put in and Ali Warnock has decided to go for the penalty attempt & his kick is good. (3-6)

33 mins: Matt Cornwell calmly slots over a drop goal for Exeter with his left foot from 30 metres to give them the 6 point cushion again. (3-9)

36 mins: Exeter penalised midway into the Knights half, their number 4 receives a talking to but nothing more. Steve Boden has the line out ball on halfway and the ball is secured but again Exeter interfere and are penalised. This time Boden has the throw in on their 22 but his throw is far too long and beats everyone. Exeter attack quickly and Chris Hallam gets back in time to stop Matt Jess from scoring. (3-9)

40 mins: Exeter awarded a penalty after the Knights are penalised in the scrum, the visitors have decided to go for a line out in injury time now, the throw is good and taken and the Exeter forwards are driving to the line, with a penalty advantage they bring the ball out by Steenson is caught and the ref brings play back for the penalty. This time Exeter have decided to set the scrum, five metres from the Knights line, the scrum is won but as the ball comes along the line Stevie McColl intercepts the pass and breaks away, unfortunately the full back didint have the legs to score as Exeter got back. (3-9)

HALF TIME @ Castle Park: Doncaster Knights 3 Exeter Chiefs 9

Second Half

42 mins: Exeter have their first line out of the second half just past halfway, and the ball is secured and they move it left along the line but the Knights defense are their and the winger is put into touch. (3-9)

44 mins: Neil Cochrane takes a line out on Exeter's 22 but the throw is adjugded to be not straight and Exeter come away with a scrum. (3-9)

46 mins: Chris Hallam breaks away inside Exeter's 22 and his pass wide is taken in by Chris Briers who narrowly misses out on scoring the first try of the afternoon. (3-9)

49 mins: Doncaster line out ten metres into Exeter's half, Steve Boden has the throw in and finds Brynn Griffiths, the forwards now have the ball under control, the ball then comes back to Ali Warnock who kicks deep into Exeters half. (3-9)

50-55 mins: Knights penalised just metres inside their own half for not rolling away. Steenson finds touch in the Knights 22 and Exeter win their line out, the ball is now in midfield with the Knights defending right on their line. As play comes to a halt the referee blows for an Exeter 5 metre scrum, the scrum is won and they drive on but the Doncaster defense stand firm and earn the turnover. (3-9)

58 mins: Again Exeter are piling on the pressure deep inside Doncaster's 22, with their forwards attacking the line but as the ball is worked out to the Exeter backs they lose it as Steenson is caught. (3-9)

61 mins: Doncaster force the turnover on half way and get the ball wide to Matty Williams who breaks free and finds Hudson on the inside who is unlucky to lose the ball as he goes to offload. (3-9)

64 mins: Exeter have the ball inside their own half and are trying to run the ball upfield, as the ball comes right Matty Williams almost makes and interception and is unlucky to knock on. (3-9)

 67 mins: Knights force Exeter into holding on just short of halfway, and Stevie McColl has stepped up to take the penalty attempt from inside his own half, and slots the kick over superbly well. (6-9)

 70 mins: From the restart the Knights make good ground into Exeter's half and then the ball is fed back to Ali Warnock who goes for the drop goal and his kick goes straight over inbetween the posts to level the scores. (9-9)

74 mins: Exeter on the attackin inside Doncaster's 22 and this time the Knights defense is breached, with Chris Budgen breaking away from the maul to score. Steenson misses the conversion from out wide. (9-14)

79 mins: Matt D'arcy has put in at the scrum right on his own 22, the ball goes in and comes out and the scrum half breaks away. Support is there and now the Knights are attacking midway in their half half, the ball is fed back to Ali Warnock who's kick isn't great and runs dead. (9-14)

80 mins: Exeter win their scrum deep in their own half and have made ground up to midway, the Knights are looking to steal the ball but Exeter are keeping a tight hold of it, the ball is then fed back to Steenson who calmly kicks the ball into touch to end the game.

FULL TIME @ Castle Park: Doncaster Knights 9 Exeter Chiefs 14