Doncaster Rugby Club

Conditions at Castle Park were close to perfect for this clash between a Moseley side which has topped the Midlands Merit Table for the past two seasons and the home side which has won the N2C league over the same period, making it the unofficial regional final.  Doncaster were weakened by the absence of the star backs who destroyed  Sedgley Park last weekend, James Rothwell and Stevie Meyer travelling to Old Deer Park with the First Team and Craig Deakin and Carey Thomas unavailable for selection.  Diminutive Colts fullback Kyle Billam was given his first start in the senior ranks, and fully justified his selection, while Rory Van Deventer moved from open side to left wing and Guy Townsley switched to centre.  In the forwards Steve Barretto and Ed Norris joined the front five and “Nozzer” it was who proved the pick of the Donny eight on the day.

The early pressure came from the red and black of Moseley until an immense kick from fly half Dan Storey cleared the lines.  Now it was Donny’s turn to attack but a promising move broke down with a penalty awarded against them for holding on.  Moseley, always an alert and inventive side, took the kick quickly and set up an attack down the left, only to find the cover defence equally alert, forcing the move into touch.  Next a barnstorming run from Norris set up a promising position for the home side, Van Deventer narrowly failing to cross in the corner.  At the resulting scrum, a strike against the head by hooker Mick Martin again looked likely to produce the opening score but lost ball on goal line was smartly whisked away by Moseley, the player in receipt finding himself with a hundred metres to run but no defenders to beat, the try and conversion putting the visitors seven points up after twenty minutes.

Things got worse for Donny when a poor clearance kick was fielded by the opposing full back, fast handling sending the ball wide for the right wing to cross in the corner.  The attempted conversion struck an upright leaving the visitors with a twelve point advantage after half an hour.

Although the home side forwards were at least the equal of the opposition, particularly in the scrums, the backs were lacking speed and penetration, but, with half time approaching Donny were at least able to get on to the score sheet with a neat penalty from Guy Townsley.

On the restart Doncaster were immediately on the attack, Norris and prop Tom Davies leading an attack down the right flank. Following a superb attacking move, the visitors were penalised on their twenty-two, skipper Simon Greenslade taking the tap quickly and setting off at pace for the posts.  The referee seemed to let him go and then inexplicably halted play for the kick to be re-taken.  Having lost the element of surprise, Greenslade opted for the shot at goal and Townsley duly obliged to bring the score back to twelve points to six.

Doncaster now brought on another of their promising colts, Joe Coy coming on to the left wing.  In spite of not playing in his usual position of flanker, he was soon in the action, narrowly failing to finish off a fine attacking move.  With the Moseley loose head prop taking an enforced ten minute rest, Donny were favourites for the next score, and so it proved.  From a scrum, Storey fired out a bullet miss pass to Coy who showed great pace to cross in the corner to bring the deficit down to one point.  From the kick-off Moseley almost had the perfect reply, their winger knocking on close to the line with no defenders at home.

With all to play for, an intriguing final quarter was on offer but, strangely, it failed to materialise.  The rest of the game was mostly played on half way with neither side able to make progress.  Tempers became frayed and, sadly, the game slipped from the referee’s control, open side flanker Andrew Poskitt and the Moseley number four being sentenced to ten minutes for fighting, with the second Moseley lock being despatched shortly afterwards for a pull down at the line out.  The visitors did manage to put a co-ordinated move together and were rewarded with a well-taken try, putting them seventeen points to eleven ahead.  Although Donny were still within striking distance, the lack of pace and penetration in the backs made it difficult to make progress against a resolute defence and it was the visitors who had the final say, putting over a penalty with the last kick of the match to close off the scoring at twenty points to twelve.  It was a disappointing and rare defeat for Doncaster, but it was reassuring to see youngsters of the likes of Billam and Coy taking the field with First Division squad members and playing with such confidence and skill.

Next Saturday’s Second Fifteen match at Wheatley Hills has had to be postponed as the hosts are having to play a rearranged league. Instead an Under 21 side will host Hallam University at Castle Park on Thursday night with a 7.30pm kick off under lights.