Moseley

Doncaster Knights travel to Moseley this weekend without their talismanic Skipper Glen Kenworthy wearing the armband for what is unexpectedly a clash to avoid finishing the weekend in 12 place. An uncharacteristic start for the Knights and below bar entry into the RFU Championship sees both sides targeting the result of “11th place or above” at the end of the 80 minutes.

The announcement of Kenworthy being sidelined has been compounded for the Knights by a similar leg injury to local born prop Tom Davies and the pair will potentially not feature during October for the South Yorkshire side. These injuries may have forced the change in starting players already hinted at during the week by Knights Director of Rugby Lynn Howells. Fan favourite Bryn Griffiths returns to the starting berth in the second row, adding another new face to the starting scrum contingent alongside new signing Steven Lawrie claiming the number 2 shirt from Steve Boden. The ever reliable no 3 Ngalu Tau comes in to a starting position but potentially the biggest shock of the game is undoubted talent Stevie McColl beginning the game at Fullback. The young Scottish Centre has won many plaudits throughout his short career, as a centre known for his damaging runs and big boot. Against Moseley Stevie will get the opportunity to put both of these talents into the mix.

Historically the Knights have had the beating of Moseley home and away, although last season the margin was an injury time try by Jamie Albinson that followed some intense work by the Knights pack, the reward coming from some old fashioned pick and go rugby finished off by the cheekiest of runs by the ex Knights Scrum half.

Players and management alike have highlighted the need not to allow a drop in confidence, and Billesley Common is never a ground for the faint hearted to visit. Not only is the home ground of “ The Mose” a difficult place for any team to visit but the spirit that carried the squad through to their EDF national Trophy Final win over Leeds Carnegie can prove daunting for many opposing teams.

The two sides are statistically as different as chalk and cheese. Despite neither team having come up with a win so far in the new competition Doncaster have only conceded 7 tries against Moseley’s record of 19 tries against. This statistic may give the defensively dominant South Yorkshire side an edge, but the converse statistic of Moseleys 9 tries scored to the Knights 3 shows an extra attacking edge to the men from Billesley Common.
The game looks set to be a test of irrepressible force v immovable object, where the immovable object of the Knights defence will have to consider the implication of home advantage on the attacking play of Moseley.

15 Stevie McColl, 14 Andy Wright, 13 Chris Briers, 12 James Brooks (C), 11 Dougie Flockhart.
10 Ali Warnock, 9 Nicky Griffiths
1 Toma Toke, 2 Steven Lawrie, 3 Ngalu Tau, 4 Bryn Griffiths, 5 Glen Townson, 6 Adam Kettle, 7 Simon Grainger, 8 Dan Smith.
16 M Cusack, 17 S Boden, 18 S Corsar, 19 Andy Boyde, 20 Matthew D’Arcy, 21 Hudson Tonga’Uiha, 22 Chris Hallam