05.09.2008
HOWELLS RINGS CHANGES FOR KNIGHTS VISIT TO LONDON WELSH
In spite of beating Otley last weekend by 36 points to 15, Doncaster’s Director of Rugby Lynn Howells rings the changes the Knights face a much harder challenge away against London Welsh at Old Deer Park on Sunday in a match that kicks off at 2pm.
The Knight’s team is:
15 Lennard
14 Bishop
13 Hughes G
12 Tonga’uiha
11 Davies W
10 Warnock
9 Albinson
1 Davies T
2 Boden
3 Ta’u
4 Griffiths
5 Kenworthy
6 Grainger
7 Cochrane
8 Kettle (Capt)
16 Toke
17 Jenkins
18 Cusack
19 Smith
20 Hallam
21 Armitage
22 Goss
23 Carter
24 List
Howells, explaining his selection, said that it was important that he saw as many of the players in a match situation as soon as possible after not having had that opportunity pre-season due to the cancellation of the friendly against Llanelli by their opponents. However, with London Welsh now joining the ranks of full-time clubs in National Division One and having lost to them away last season, Howells said he had to show them great respect hence his decision to include experienced “old” players such as Justin Bishop and Wez Davies.
Last Saturday London Welsh narrowly won away at Moseley by 15 points to 9 with a last minute converted try by Paul Sampson rescuing them from what would have been a very surprise defeat. Reading the match reports from both clubs it was missed kicking opportunities that could have cost them dear.
Last year the Knights lost at Old Deer Park by 29 points to 3 after dominating the first half to the extent that they could have been out of sight at half-time. However injuries to hooker Steve Boden (damaged jaw), replacement hooker Ben Phillips (shoulder injury) and lock Lisiate Fiaioso (broken leg) disrupted them badly and they never got over the loss of these three players within the space of 10 minutes around halftime. After that match Howells said “It was bitterly disappointing to reflect on this defeat and to wonder how we managed to lose a match we appeared to have totally under control at half-time”.
A visit to Old Deer Park is always an experience as there is ample evidence of the days in the seventies when the Welsh were the top club side in the UK if, arguably, not in the world. Rugby legends such as JPR Williams, Gerald Davies, John Dawes, John Taylor and the mighty “Merv the Swerve” graced the pitch in the shadows of Kew Gardens. The decision to go full-time this season is a clear statement of intent, as ours was last season, of London Welsh’s aim to finish high in this league before bringing back former glories by regaining their position at the top of the rugby tree. Hopefully, both on Sunday and in the long term, the Knights will have something to say about that!
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