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News
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LEEDS CARNEGIE 15 DONCASTER KNIGHTS 29
The goal kicking of Doncaster fly half Cerith Rees was the difference between the two sides in a sometimes bad tempered Yorkshire Cup semi-final in Leeds with both sides scoring two tries. Doncaster however will look back and wonder how they failed to score more tries in a match where they had much of the possession.
Leeds kicked off with the wind and went ahead after 6 minutes when prop Phil Swainton was driven over from a 5 metre lineout. Doncaster responded immediately but were unable to score with Cerith Rees missing two longish kicks into the wind. The Knights eventually went ahead after 20 minutes when, after good work by full back Anthony Carter, the ball was moved to the right where winger Donavon Van Vuuren cut back towards the post to score a try that Rees converted. Leeds went back into the lead after 29 minutes when they took advantage of poor midfield defence by the Knights to work their right wing Sam Bottomley, a former Doncaster youth player, over in the corner which their flyhalf Adam Greendale converted with a good kick from near touch. With the Knights on top territorially for the remainder of the half, Rees put them into the lead with two well struck penalties from 40 metres.
With the wind the Knights soon pinned Leeds into their own half and they almost scored after 6 minutes in a move that was illegally stopped closed to his line by home flanker Andy Boyde. From the resultant penalty, the Knights opted for the lineout and they drove Ollie Cook over for a try that Rees converted. Although Greendale kicked a penalty for Leeds, it was now all Doncaster and Rees extended their lead with two penalties, the second from 47 metres. With 13 minutes left the game erupted when a mass brawl started midfield and, with the referee totally out of control, it went on for almost a minute. Eventually peace was restored with the referee yellow carding the Knights Chris Planchant and Spencer Davey, both on as replacements, and Leeds lock James Craig but he could equally have punished almost every player on the field. Two more well struck penalties by Rees brought the end to a game that, in all honesty, the Knights should have won much more convincingly than the final score of 29 points to 15.
After the game Doncaster were relieved to finish the game with no serious injuries and the holders now play Whardefale in a repeat on last season’s final, hopefully next Wednesday or Thursday at Harrogate.
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