Knights vs Plymouth

Team News: 

Plymouth: G Kingdom, B Mercer, K Fisilau, S Tuipulotu, L Gibson, K Hallett (C), R Cushion, M Rice, J Clark, D Porte, T Hotson, T Skelding, S-M Stephen, D Clayton, K Marriot.
Replacements: A Davies, M Lee, W Sprangle, R Hopkins, R Watts-Jones, M Lewis, D Morton.

Doncaster: B Davey, A Wright, H Tonga'uiha, B Armitage, D Flockhart, A Warnock, C Hallam, S Corsar, S Lawrie (C), N Tau, B Griffiths, G Townson, A Kettle, S Grainger, A Boyde.
Replacements: M Cusack, S Boden, T Toke, D Smith, M D'arcy, M Williams, S McColl.

Live Updates to follow.

1st min: Hudson penalised for an accidental crossing with Andy Boyde from the kick off, Plymouth scrum down on Doncaster's 22. The ball goes in and comes out but is knocked on as Plymouth tried to attack down the left flank. (0-0)

5 mins: After a kicking exchange Dougie Flockhart knocks on midway inside his own half, as a result Plymouth scrum. After an infringment they take a qucik tap and are now heading towards the Knights 22, but the home team are penalised after some good work from Hudson who forces the turnover. (0-0)

7 mins: Plymouth penalised just past the ten metre line inside their half. Ali Warnock steps up to take the penalty in near perfect kicking conditions here & his kick is good. (0-3)

11 mins: Line out throw by Steven Lawrie adjudged to be not straight by the referee, Plymouth scrum inside Knights 22, the ball comes out and Plymouth are attacking in the centres and are awarded a penalty by the referee. I didn't see exactly what for, but Hallett has stepped up to take the penalty kick & has levelled the scores. (3-3)

17 mins: A great run from Chris Hallam who broke through the Plymouth Albion line, the Knights have now pegged the home side back inside their 22, Hallett kicks clear but only reaches half way which allows Doncaster to continue on the front foot. (3-3)

21 mins: Quick line out taken by Steven Lawrie, but the throw didnt go the required five metres, giving Plymouth a scrum just past halfway. (3-3)

24 mins: Bryn Griffiths penalised for going over the top after a kick and chase by Andy Wright. Hallett finds touch midway into the Knights half, the line out is won and they have the ball in the centre, but it is lost and the Knights force Plymouth to defend back in their 22 after a good kick from Warnock. (3-3)

27 mins: Knights on the front foot again, attacking down the right hand side this time but as Boyde almost breaks free he looks for the pass on the inside the ball is lost as it gets collected by a Plymouth forwards. (3-3)

29 mins: Andy Wright is upended in very unpleasant fashion in midfield, which presents Ali Warnock with a penalty midway inside Plymouth's half and right infront of the posts. His kick is good and puts the Knights back in the lead. (3-6)

33 mins: Knights penalised just short of their 22 on the left flank, Hallett has decided to go for the kick & levels the scores for the second time for the home side. (6-6)

36 mins: Chris Hallam has put in at the scrum as it's set for the 3rd time midway into Plymouths half, the ball is taken from the scrum by Boyde but the Knights are penalised. Ngalu Tau adjudged to have held back a Plymouth forward. (6-6)

38 mins: Good kick from Hallett and well applied pressure finds the error as Ali Warnocks pass to Flockhart inside his own dead ball area goes forward, giving Plymouth a scrum five metres from the line, the ball goes in and comes out but then the home side are penalised for holding on. (6-6)

40 mins: Chris Hallam has put in at the scrum in the final minute of the half, the ball comes out and Hallam pass goes a little astray and finds the referee. Scrum reset for Hallam to put in again, this time the ball comes out and is spread right to Dougie Flockhart who breaks down the right hand side, only to be caught. The referee then blows for half time.

HALF TIME @ Brickfields: Plymouth Albion 6 Doncaster Knights 6

Attendance: 2395.

Quick review: Much improved performance by the Knights this afternoon, spending a lot of the half on the front foot in Plymouth's half. Two penalties from Ali Warnock have given the Knights the lead only for Hallett to punish mistakes from the Knights to level the scores on both occasions. General consensus on the press bench here today amongst the local media is 'how can a side that's played like this in the first half only have one point?'.

Second Half:

Half time substitution: Ngalu Tau off, replaced by Michael Cusack.

41 mins: As the ball is spread along the line nicely, the final pass from Brett Davey reaches Adam Kettle but Steven Lawrie runs right infront of him and is penalised much to the disamusement of the flanker. Plymouth win their line out on halfway and are now attacking midway inside the Knights half. (6-6)

45 mins: Plymouth win their line out, midway back in their own half and now have the ball on the left flank, their scrum half takes a box kick which is taken by Brett Davey who passes inside for the Knights to counter attack, Hudson has taken the ball past halfway and the ball is now the forwards. (6-6)

47 mins: Knights penalised just after Plymouth had turned it over, it looked like the penalty was for a swinging arm. Hallett has stepped up to take the penalty which is right on the halfway line, but his kick is short and waywards. (6-6)

Knights substitution: Brett Davey off, replaced by Stevie McColl.

51 mins: Plymouth defending a line out midway back into their half, the ball is taken well by their second row Skelding and Hallett puts in the kick, only for the Knights to counter attack. After a good break from Flockhart support is there in the form of Hudson Tonga'uiha who has reached the 22 & with the support of his forwards has earnt a scrum five metres from Plymouth's line. (6-6)

53-55 mins: Chris Hallam has put the ball into to the scrum, but not to the referee's liking who orders for it to be reset. Hallam puts the ball in for the second time, Boyde is controlling the ball at the back and the referee blows for a third reset. Hallam puts the ball in again and again the scrum is reset. 4th time, the ball goes in, this time it comes out, Adam Kettle breaks for the line, support is there as the forwards have it only metres short and the referee blows for a Knights penalty. (6-6)

56-58 mins: Knights have chosen to go for another five metre scrum, Chris Hallam puts the ball in and yet again the referee calls for it to be reset. The ball has gone in and Adam Kettle has it in control in his famous 'bunny hopping' style, the pack move forwards and the referee blows for a penalty try. Warnock adds the conversion from infront of the posts. (6-13)

61 mins: Ali Warnock takes a high kick right on his own 22 and is almost closelined by the chasing Plymouth scrum half. Stevie McColl finds touch just shy of halfway with his kick. (6-13)

63-66 mins: Bryn Griffiths wins the Knights line out on Plymouth's 22, the ball inside finds Hudson Tonga'uiha who makes ground into the 22, the forwards now have it only metres from the line on the left flank & after a couple of charges they force their way over for a try. Im not sure if it was Stuart Corsar or Steven Lawrie who touched the ball down. Ali Warnock's conversion from outwide is pushed wide. (6-18)

Substitution for Knights: Chris Hallam off, Replaced by Matt D'arcy

72 mins: After Plymouth's best attack of the second half, the Knights have succesfully defended the threat to their line and won a penalty in their own 22. Ali Warncock finds touch ten metres from halfway. (6-18)

Substitution for Knights: Stuart Corsar off, Replaced by Toma Toke. Steven Lawrie off, Replaced by Steve Boden.

77 mins: Ball fed back nicely to Ali Warnock midway into Plymouth's half, the fly half goes for the drop goal and puts his kick over nicely to add to the Knights lead. (6-21)

Final Substitution for the Knights: Dan Smith on the field to replace Bryn Griffiths.

80 mins: Plymouth have the ball on halfway, the ball is fed wide but the Knights defense is standing frim and not allowing the home side to gain any ground. They've now been forced back to just short of their own 22 after good work from the Doncaster team. (6-21)

80+ mins: Knights force the turnover out on the right flank and are awarded a penalty by the referee. Warnock finds touch in their 22, Steve Boden has the ball & his line out is stolen by Plymouth who kick clear down field. (6-21)

80+ mins: Now into the 4th minute of injury time, Knights win a line out inside their own half but are penalised shortly after. Plymouth go for a quick tap and now have the ball out wide but as it comes back inside it is lost. The knights kick down field and as the ball finds touch the referee blows the whislte for full time.

FULL TIME @ Brickfields: Plymouth Albion 6 Doncaster Knights 21

The Knights have come away with their first win of the season after an excellent team performance. I don' think anyone can be singled out for praise as the whole side performed tremendously well, not allowing the home side to get their game started at any time.