Axv Result

Matthew D'Arcy

By James Oliver
 

Doncaster Knights 10
Rotherham Titans 19

For the second time in three days Doncaster Knights lost out to their rivals from down the M18. This time around though the conditions allowed for a free flowing attacking game of rugby to be played and Doncaster took a 10-0 lead into the break but Rotherham maintained their unbeaten ‘A’ game run with three second half tries to steal it.

Rotherham started the game on the front and had a couple of good opportunities in the Knights half as the home team were penalised. Simon Jenkins, returning to Castle Park made no mistakes with his early line out ball but as the play came inside Andy Wright caught his man and forced the turnover. The Knights took the lead ten minutes in on their first real venture into the Rotherham 22, Joe Wright at fly half found centre Jon Buchanon on the inside to run in and score. Unfortunately Wright couldn’t add the conversion. Despite conceding the try Rotherham still looked to attack when they had the ball in hand but midway through the half the Knights got back into the game and it was them that were now enjoying more the ball and field position. They were unable to make the pressure tell and shortly after had Antony Carter to thank for saving what looked a try for the Rotherham scrum half Matt Rhodes who’d chased down his grubber kick.

The Knights second try came about thanks to Matt D’Arcy breaking from half way before finding Andy Wright five metres from the line, who almost made a mess of scoring but was able to kick the ball into the dead ball area and touchdown to score. Joe Wright narrowly missed the conversion from the touchline. Again, the score didn’t deter the visitors who maybe deserved a try for the first half efforts and in the final minute of the half were on the attack again in the Knights 22, sadly the move was snuffed out by the Knights defence & D’Arcy put the ball into touch to end the half.

The second half started much the same as the first half ended, with both teams looking to attack when they had ball in hand. Rotherham were again looking dangerous and they got their first try on ten minutes, they won their line out deep in the Knights 22 and their forwards were able to push over. As the half went on it was Rotherham that were in the ascendancy & enjoying more of the play, Doncaster’s best attack of the half came, after pinning Rotherham back in their half and turning the ball over they were on the attack but the Rotherham defence showed no signs of letting them through. With a quarter of an hour to go both sides made changes, with Doncaster giving a lot of young academy players a game. The difference showed and in the final ten minutes Rotherham scored two tries to seal the win. For the first try Matt Bray found his replacement centre after a jinking run to score, who then added the conversion to his try and only minutes after replacement Mauro scored after a good breakaway by no’8 Ben Wade. The conversion was added which put the game out of sight for the Knights.

Teams
Doncaster: T Davies, S Lawrie (C), L Thiede, G Townson, D Parsons, A Boyde, C MacKenzie, B Hannam, M D’arcy, J Wright, A Wright, J Buchanon, C Briers, S Jones, A Carter
Replacements: S Pitcher, M Ward, J Makin, J Barron, W Robinson, S Slingsby, W Du Randt.
Rotherham: J Kilbane, S Jenkins, C Voisey, T Maslanyk, Ben Harris, Bruce Harris, T Cokell, B Wade, M Rhodes, T Bray, P Henderson, JP Gidlow, T Allan, J Broadly, B Coulbeck.
Replacements: A Barratt, T Platt, D Pollock, K Maggs, Mauro, A O’Donnell, E Rhodes, R Donnelly, W Marshall.