PLYMOUTH ALBION 14 DONCASTER KNIGHTS 13
For their away clash with second placed Plymouth Albion, league leaders Doncaster Knights were forced to make one change from the side that was successful in its first two games. This was at centre where centre Paul Bailey had a minor knee operation midweek and he was replaced by Wes Davies moving in from the wing with the versatile Ollie Cook taking his place.
The match started in bright sunshine but with the Knights facing a brisk breeze. The early exchanges were inconclusive before Doncaster were awarded a penalty almost in front of the posts after Plymouth had gone offside defending a lineout attack and drive. This opportunity was taken by Knights’ flyhalf Mark Woodrow to put his side ahead. The next 15 minutes was played mainly just inside the Knights’ half as Plymouth sort to use the wind advantage having firstly been thwarted by some outstanding Doncaster defence. However after 25 minutes Plymouth gained a foothold inside the Doncaster 22 and, when the Knights were penalised, full back Wihan Neethling kicked the goal to make the scores level. The rest of the half was played out in the Doncaster half as the Knights made a number of uncharacteristic errors when in possession.
Doncaster started the second half very brightly and put early pressure on the home side with one particular forward drive from a lineout going very close indeed. Against the run of play, Plymouth came into the Doncaster half as they resorted to a kick and chase game after having been continually thwarted by the visitor’s defence. At this point the Knights were penalised for handing in a ruck and Neethling kicked his second penalty. As the game went into the final quarter, Plymouth were penalised for offside 15 metres out and Woodrow kicked his second penalty to equalise the scores. Plymouth came back at the Knights and with 15 minutes left they were awarded a penalty for Knights killing the ball 25 metres, an offence for which hooker Steve Boden received a yellow card. With Neethling kicking his third penalty for the offence Doncaster faced a serious problem defending with a man short whilst trying to get back on terms and their players responded magnificently as they took the game back to the home side. With the game approaching injury time and the Knights back to full strength, Plymouth broke out of their half with a kick and chase and, after two unlucky bounces for the visitors, their substitute centre David Delaney hacked the ball over the line to score a try that Neethling failed to convert. Doncaster hit right back at Albion and they were awarded a series of penalties as the home side were penalised whilst defending a number of ferocious forward drives by the Knights. They were finally rewarded when replacement hooker Scott Plevey crashed over in the corner for the Knights for a try that was converted from the left touchline by replacement flyhalf Jon Benson to leave the Knights losers by a single point.
Throughout the game the Knight’s defence was magnificent as, it has to be said, was that of the hosts. After the game several Plymouth supporters said that it was the best defensive effort seen at Brickfields for many years. After the match Doncaster Director of Rugby summed up his team’s performance very poetically by saying that his side had “played the game with their hearts on fire but they did not leave their heads in the fridge!”
Plymouth Albion
15 Wihan Neethling: 14 Ed Lewsey: 13 Regardt Van Eyk (David Delaney): 12 Keni Fisilau: 11 Nicolas Sestaret: 10 Ed Barnes: 9 Nigel Cane: 1 Martin Rice: 2 Richard Oxley: 3 Scott Zimmerman: 4 Colin Stewart: 5 Ben Gulliver: 6 Brett Stroud: 7 Dan Thomas (C): 8 Tom Hayes (Chris Lawrie 59)
Doncaster
15 Jon Boden: 14 Ollie Cook: 13 Wes Davies: 12 Spencer Davey: 11 Brad Hunt: 10 Mark Woodrow (Jon Benson 70): 9 Ben Jones (Dave Scully 70): 1 Simon Bunting (Richard List 67): 2 Steve Boden (Scott Plevey 68): 3 Ngalu Ta’u (Tom Davies 60): 4 Glen Kenworthy (Dan Cook 63): 5 Luke Gross: 6 Simon Grainger: 7 Jason Forster: 8 Glen Wilson (68 – 77)
Referee
Llyr Ap Geraint Roberts |
