Team Announcement

Steve Boden

Doncaster Knights will be looking for a return to winning form over a visiting Cornish Pirates side who have held an image of being unbeatable at Castle Park for years.

Despite Doncaster overcoming the Pirates for the first time in their history away at deepest, darkest Camborne the Pirates are still yet to lose a game at the Armthorpe rd Ground.

Last season the curse seemed almost lifted as the Knights battled their way to a draw, giving last season the honour of being the best set of results against the Cornish side.

This season, with a clean slate, Doncaster Knights look to better even last seasons impressive haul of points against the Cornishmen starting this Friday evening at 7.30pm where home advantage will be key in the contest.

A welcome return to fitness is believed a good omen for debutante Nicky Griffiths, as the Welsh Scrum Half looks to introduce himself to the home fans with a key performance, and the ever improving big man, Dan Smith, retains his surprise place in the back row. A revelation so far this season in his conversion to a number 8 Smith’s performances have led to many believing this could be his natural position. The benefit of the move away from the engine room of the scrum means the powerhouse Glen Townson can now be played at the same time as Smith, which gives extra impact and a variation in running styles from the big men.

Cornish Pirates though are no easy opponent, as their mauling of Moseley last weekend highlights. The 57 point to 24 domination of the Midlands side proved that the Pirates are not yet ready to lower the flag and return to more peaceful results, seemingly there is much life in the sold seadogs yet.

Teams As Announced.

DONCASTER

15 ROGER DAVIES,14 ANDY WRIGHT, 13 BEVON ARMITAGE, 12 HUDSON TONGA’UIHA, 11 DOUGIE FLOCKHART, 10 JAMES BROOKS, 9 NICKY GRIFFITHS

1 STUART CORSAR, 2 STEVE BODEN, 3 TOM DAVIES, 4 GLEN KENWORTHY (C)
5 GLENTOWNSON, 6 ANDY BOYDE, 7 SIMON GRAINGER, 8 DAN SMITH

REPLACEMENTS
16 TOMA TOKE, 17 STEVE LAWRIE, 18 BRYN GRIFFITHS, 19 ADAM KETTLE
20 MATT D’ARCY, 21 ALI WARNOCK, 22 CHRIS BRIERS

PIRATES

15 ROB COOK, 14 WES DAVIES, 13 MARK IRELAND, 12 NICK JACKSON, 11 AISEA HAVILI, 10 JON BENTLEY, 9 JIMMY MOORE,

1 ALAN PAVER, 2 ROB ELLOWAY, 3 RUDI BRITS, 4 ROD LABUSCHAGNE, 5 LUKE COLLINS, 6 CHRIS MORGAN (C), 7 TYRONE HOLMES, 8 LAURIE MCGLONE

REPLACEMENTS
Dave Ward, Ryan Storer, Sam Betty, Matt Evans, Harvey Biljon, Steve Winn, Richard Bright