 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
News
 |
Clifton Lane was the venue for the Quarter Final of the Yorkshire Cup, Doncaster Knights taking the spoils 25 points to 10 in a game showcased flowing rugby from both sides. Intermittent heavy rain punctuated the first half creating changing conditions, removing the ability for both teams wingers to punish in the second half.
Dan Storey was an inspired but surprising choice at Full Back for the Knights, his measured kicking and coolness under pressure made up for any limit in pace. Playing Full back previously for the first XV against Holland the last time anyone could remember in this position. A returning Wes Davies moving up to the wing tore early holes in the Titans defence, coming up with the Knights first points by barging over the line after a deft pass from an attacking Tom Luke only 3 minutes in. With the edges of the pitch dry Davies enjoyed room to run at people early on, and seemingly refreshed his energy levels seemed higher than ever as he taunted the Rotherham defence. The contrasting running style of Tom Davies, hitting hard with a low centre of gravity, gave a mix of attacking options which hinted at a will to win that might have been stronger than the home sides. The Knights seemed in control of set pieces, Luke Gross looking almost unchallenged at lineouts.
With Toma Toke and Andrew Wilson dominating the pack in attack and defence the Knights conceded an unlucky penalty successfully converted, against a run of play in which they probed left and right for a weakness. As has happened many times in the league the first half seemed focused on identifying weakness to exploit later, not a tactic all enjoy but when succesful leading to a grandstand finish.
Toma Toke and Scott Gray almost combined for the move of the game 22 minutes in, as the young Tongan forward shrugged of tackle after tackle eventually looping a pass that Scott Gray collected on the bounce. His feed to Dave Scully pin point , the Knights Captain and Scrum Half for the day made good yards eventually being held up only 5 yards out.
With few scares in the first half Cerith Rees increased the lead with a solid penalty conversion to leave them going in at the half 5 points to the good. The Try fromWes Davies the distance between the two teams in the first half, a half as close as the score suggests.
With the Knights dominating set pieces, the second half began with Luke Gross taking cleanly at a lineout, putting Andrew Wilson in the frame 5m out, the Canadian U21 International finished his second try in 2 games clinically. Again the Knights conceded ill deserved points, a penalty try on 55 minutes putting Titans back in the game. The Short bursts of heavy rain earlier in the game created a much heavier pitch by this stage, forcing the play more centrally with the forwards and taking creative spark out of the game.
The Set piece and Luke Gross combination again hit the right note as on 62 minutes The giant American Lock forced himself over for a try. The game became " Needs must" with both teams playing to the conditions, if anything Rotherham adjusted later to the conditions still playing the long pass when a short one would do. In fairness the touchline to touchline style saw the Titans almost score wide left, only prevented by a flying last ditch tackle by the hard working Ben Phillips. Howells decision to encourage the shorter , impact game played the conditions more cleverly than his opposite number as the rest of the play highlighted.
The Titans failed to threaten again despite attemtping the more flamboyant rugby. The Knights went into a long dominant period , keeping things simple on a heavy pitch. with Ollie Cook going over on 72 minutes to wrap up the game for the Doncaster Side, with Cerith Rees adding the extra points with the boot. The Knights now advance to the Semi Final, with Leeds Carnegie still in the draw, Wharfedale and Beverly still in the draw.
Other News Articles
ESHER V KNIGHTS REPORT
4TH OFFICIAL VACANCY
AXV FOR MONDAY
DVD GAME APOLOGY
