Doncaster Knights 22 London Welsh 3
Another win but bonus point elludes off colour Knights
The Knights remain in second place but once again failed to take control of a game against one of the lesser sides in the division. Coach Lynn Howells expressed his concerns that several of the more experienced players are not stepping up to the mark and imposing themselves on part time opponents. Failure to keep getting bonus points is clearly now irritating him. He had brought in Chris Planchant for another game to rest Glen Wilson; and started with Wes Davies at full back and Paul Bailey back in on the right wing. Toma Toke was on the bench, as was Cerith Rees after 12 weeks absence with a broken hand suffered on the opening day in September. The Welsh started one of their new World Cup Fijians at hooker, and brough the second off the bench. They also had Wasps no.8 Hugo Ellis in on loan in a pack that that dismantled Rotherham two weeks earlier.
It might have been different afternoon had Brad Hunt and Wes Davies’ early move that cut swathes through the defence borne the try it should have but the “scoring” pass to Paul Bailey was behind him; and soon after a huge overlap on penalty advantage when the Welsh backs were offside under their posts saw the “scoring” pass forward, leaving Mark Woodrow’s penalty the only reward for the first quarter’s efforts. By this time the strong Welsh pack were starting to impose themselves on the Knights in set and loose play but all their pressure through the second quarter – and there was plenty - brought only the one Sam Ulph penalty. Paul Sampson almost finished off a good move but a huge Simon Grainger tackle forced him into touch with the line beckoning. Just when a half time draw looked likely, the home backs produced flowing move from deep in their own half and when slow recycled ball at the breakdown appeared to be going nowhere, Wes Davies crafted a try out of the top drawer as he switched the direction of attack to arc round and through the Welsh defence with Donavan Van Vuuren’s presence outside enough to hold his opposite number and create the space for the try. Woodrow converted and the half time roasting wasn’t just as hot as it might have been.
Scottish referee Graham Knox, out of his depth in many respects and particularly around the breakdowns, decided that a blatant late tap tackle on Woodrow was fair which cost the Knights three obvious points; and the exasperation seemed to cause the team to lose focus. Aimless kicking, lost line outs, a scrum under pressure and no apparent direction all combined to allow the game to drift as the Welsh offered little other than considerable forward grunt. They brought on their huge Fijian Lewaravu who added impact but was the recipient of the tackle of the day when Van Vuuren stopped him in full flight as he galloped up the touchline. Perhaps this heroic example raised home spirits. Spencer Davey came on and immediately improved midfield. Suddenly things did start to click again and Van Vuuren finished off a cracking move started by props Ngalu Tau and Richard List as Woodrow drifted left and threw a long floated pass to the winger who scorched home into the corner. Bryn Griffiths’ powerful drive to the line was stopped just short, new Tongan prop Toma Toke was introduced and showed strong scrummaging and good skills elsewhere, and with the last play of the game the Knights gave the scoreline more respectability with a third try. Davey created it when he made the line break for Cerith Rees to take the offload and outpace the defence to the posts for a try he converted himself.
It was another win. Not a very satisfying one. It will be very different when old friends Rotherham visit the Castle next Saturday (note 2.00pm kick off – as are all home games in December).
Lynn Howells and Cerith Rees feature on the Podcasts post match which can be viewed off the front page of the website
Doncaster: Davies W, Bailey, Hunt, Luke (Davey 53), Van Vuuren, Woodrow (Rees 69), Jones (Storey 72), Davies T (List 58), Boden, Tau (Toke 63), Griffiths, Kenworthy, Gray, Grainger, Planchant.
London Welsh: Ulph, Strong (Evans R 40), Storey, Jewell, Sampson, Marks (Burton 75), Evans G (Nichols 53), Hannon (Gay 64), Vuli, Liffchak, Quigley (Lewaravu 60), Corker, Mills, Andrews, Ellis (Lee 21).
Referee: G Knox (SRU) |
