Doncaster 20 Pirates 40
There was plenty evidence that Doncaster will be competitive in this division, particularly in a pack that was solid in the set piece and feisty at the breakdown. When their first choice back line is available – four were absent – they should convert the possession into tries. One difference in this match was that the Pirates were able to do so. The other was the self inflicted nature of points concession at critical moments that effectively put the game out of reach. The team will learn that such generosity will be cruelly taken advantage of in this league!
A strong start by a home side containing seven debutants should have seen a try inside two minutes when Rothwell collected a kick in his own half and ran cleverly up his wing to set up a two on one, but failed to give the scoring pass to Boden screaming outside him. Then the visitors were penalised for collapsing the scrum on Baretto’s head but Benson’s simple kick drifted wide – ten points thrown away and already missing skipper Liley who sat the match out with an injured ankle. Penalties were exchanged as the quarter passed (Boden taking over the duties) before the Pirates did score, fast ball right creating the overlap for Welding to get into the right corner. Grainger seemed everywhere, putting in some huge tackles. Another dominant period by the home side saw only a second Boden penalty as reward for great forward effort, but that was offset by a Jarvis penalty for a tackle offence on a rare Pirates incursion into the home ’22. Immediately, and against the run of play, though, Pirates scored again – the restart failed to go ten metres and from the ensuing gifted attacking scrum, centre Roke broke and kicked behind the defence for Welding to chase, collect and round his man to get into the corner. Boden did strike a third penalty for the home side (but missed another) and 9-16 at the break was no reflection of the half’s efforts. A hugely encouraging first 40 minutes in National One was the general consensus.
A wonderful Doncaster try early in the second half put the match very much in the balance. Earnshaw broke off the back of a midfield lineout and chipped into the visitors ’22. Wood collected the awkward bounce at high speed and beat the desperate defence to score. Boden couldn’t level the score. The defining moment of the match came soon after. Doncaster broke out of defence and centre Hunt, with two players alongside and only full back Davies ahead, chose the greedy option and was cut down. Not only that, but he lost possession and the Pirates clinically went to the other end where hooker Ince was one of four Pirates who could score with ease after what should have been a saving tackle failed to be converted to a ruck with offside line protection. He did so, and with Jarvis adding the extras, instead of being five ahead, Doncaster were nine behind. The body language in the team suggested a sudden loss of belief with this misfortune, compounded when minutes later referee Copsey didn’t see a clear obstruction by a shielding inside runner to allow Davies a free run through to score another as the hour approached and the gap went out to 16 points. Two more Boden penalties were all the home side could garner in what was then a search for a bonus point as the effort picked up again. New signing Montagu added edge to the back row, and he and Dan Cook had one particularly notable drive, after which Grainger burst off a line out to set up Hunt who sadly knocked on in the tackle close to the line. Benson and Rothwell gave the stands something to shout about; and Doncaster certainly didn’t deserve to concede ten more points in stoppage time as Jarvis kicked a penalty and with the last move the elusive Davies set up Jess to score. There was not 20 points between the sides, but the Pirates cutting edge in the backs did deserve the victory, the margin of which was more down to home errors than anything else. Avoidance of such excesses will be a priority for next week’s tough trip to Bedford.
Doncaster: Boden, Rothwell, Hunt, Murray, Wood (Deakin 50), Boden, Lane (Harrison 48), Bunting (List 74), Roddam, Baretto (Tau 48), Kenworthy, D. Cook, Earnshaw (Norris 74), Grainger, O. Cook (Montagu 60).
Pirates: Davies, Welding, Roke, James, Jess, Jarvis (Barlow 79), McAtee (Westren 4), Paver, Ince (Maasi 77), Seal (Parkes 52), James, Beardshaw (Cowley 54), Bearman, Motusaga (Betsy 79), Evans.
Referee: G. Copsey (RFU) |
