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‘A’ Team Report
Doncaster Knights 7
Rotherham Titans 10
A solitary second half penalty from Rotherham fly half Jonny West was enough to secure a win for the visitors last night at Castle Park.
Stevie McColl showed a great turn of pace to score a try to bring the scores level just before half time after Rotherham had taken the lead with their second rower barging over from a 5 metre scrum.
It wasn’t a match that could be described as a classic and to be fair to them Rotherham probably deserved their win. Doncaster had a chance to take the lead in the 5th minute, but Ali Warnock’s penalty hit the post. Rotherham looked to have started the brighter though and could have had a try in the eight minute if not for an excellent try saving tackle by Will Du Rant on their no’8. Shortly after West had a chance to put Rotherham into the lead but he to hit the upright with his penalty. The try came shortly after the game restarted as a result of the ball hitting the post, a five metre scrum was set and their second rower broke from it crashing over just wide of the posts. West added the conversion. Rotherham could have had another minutes later, a wayward pass from Will Robinson was lucky not to be punished as the chasing Rotherham centre had just kicked the ball a tad too far and it went dead. Scores were level at half time though after Rotherham were penalised on halfway, Ali Warnock took a quick tap, beat the first line of defence before feeding McColl who ran in to score down the right.
The opening ten of the second half continued in a similar vein to the first with the sides exchanging possession and not really doing much with it, it was Rotherham though that were enjoying the better of the field position. Doncaster threatened to break through the Rotherham defence on a couple of occasions, Bevon Armitage broke the line first making good ground before the Knights were penalised and Will Du Rant showed good counter attack skills after taking the ball from his 22 past halfway before losing out after his kick and chase. But with ten minutes to go West kicked the penalty to put the visitors into the lead after the Knights hooker was caught offside. Two minutes later West missed a drop goal after Rotherham’s forward had made their way into Doncaster’s half. The Knights continued to press and came closest with their best attack of the half in the dying minutes, the ball was moved nicely up field before being spread right to wing James Wood who was put into touch inside Rotherham’s 22.
Full Time: Doncaster 7 – Rotherham 10.
Doncaster Team: W Du Rant, S Slingsby, B Armitage, S McColl, J Wood, A Warnock, W Robinson, S Corsar, T Doughty, L Thiede, J Brady, J Makin, M Lowcock, S Onesi, D Smith.
Subs: M Ward, S Pitcher, J Barrow, E White, C Mackenzie, D Scully, J Wright.