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Jamie.Crawford
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Joined: 17/08/2005
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| Posted: 16/02/2012 at 10:55am | IP Logged
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Last Monday the Titans lost at home for only the second time this season; 14 – 19 to third-placed Cornish Pirates. On both occasions that the Titans have lost at Clifton Lane, they have won a losing bonus point by being within seven points (one to LW and five to the Pirates). Unfortunately for the Knights that means that the Titans have been badly stung and will be seeking some form of retribution by doing the double over the Knights at Castle Park.
Last time the teams met was at Clifton Lane on the 19th of November last year; the Titans were the victors 23 – 10.
Again indiscipline proved to be a losing factor as the match was marred by many controversial refereeing decisions (or maybe the lack of them) as Brett Davey's men paid the penalty for lapses in concentration and discipline. Titan fly half Garry Law scored both conversions, a drop-goal and two penalties.
After some initial superb Knights’ defence Rotherham were handed the advantage when Knights fly-half Tom Luke was sin-binned for hands in the ruck. The gap left in the Knights’ defence is what flanker Robin Copeland took advantage of within the space of five minutes.
On Wednesday evening the Knights suffered a heavy 40-14 defeat in their re-arranged mid-week clash with Nottingham at Meadow Lane. The bonus point defeat leaves Rotherham Titans seventh and the Knights eighth in the Championship. The Titans are four points ahead of the Knights having won an extra game. On their respective journeys, the Titans have played 20 games, won 10, drawn 1 and lost 9; the Knights have played 19, won 9, drawn 2 and lost 8. The Titans have scored an average of 22.7 points per game and conceded an average of 20.1 points; the Knights have scored an average of 21.7 and conceded an average of 22.1.
Titan away try scoring is virtually a 40:60 split first half:second half. Two thirds of away tries scored have been in the middle quarters, with only one try being scored in the first 20 mins.
Titan forwards have scored nearly twice as many tries as Knights’ forwards and the vast majority of these are back row.
Law is the best kicker in the Championship and Copeland is the third top try scorer. Titan winger Shane Monahan has only scored three fewer tries than Copeland. The Titan back row have scored more than double the amount of tries than the Knights’ back row have, which is not surprising given Copeland’s try-scoring prowess and the fact that he is a flanker.
With one game to play after the Knights, the current eleventh-placed London Scottish; the Titans will look to rise up the Championship table and finish with two wins. Nottingham are level on league points and Leeds Carnegie are only one league point above the Titans. Even fourth-placed London Welsh are only four points above the Titans, so a win against the Knights would greatly increase their prospects in the play-offs.
After only two days’ rest, will the Knights’ heavy defeat on Wednesday leave them battle-weary or will the game have served as a stone upon which the Knights sharpened their swords ready to do battle against their local rivals?
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Jamie.Crawford
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| Posted: 16/02/2012 at 3:04pm | IP Logged
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Please remember 12.05 KO and to arrive in good time as many spectators are expected.
Sky will be there and the U7 and U8 mini rugby teams will be playing the Rotherham U7's and U8's at tag rugby at half time.
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Rob.Carville
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| Posted: 17/02/2012 at 3:33pm | IP Logged
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I'm liking the look of the side for tomorrow.
It's a bit of a shame David McIlwaine's not available but other than that we look pretty strong.
I just hope the lads play their own brand of rugby and don't get dragged into anything stupid. Especially in front of the Sky cameras.
C'mon Donny!!
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A.MacGregor
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| Posted: 17/02/2012 at 3:53pm | IP Logged
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Good to see the club still hoping for 5000 tomorrow.
Published on Friday 17 February 2012 Free Press
THE Sky is the limit for Doncaster Knights, according to
the club’s commercial boss Gareth Alred.
Knights’ backroom staff have been working overtime in the
build-up to Saturday’s live televised clash against
Rotherham and hope to see their efforts rewarded with a
5,000 sell-out crowd at Castle Park.
And Alred (pictured), who joined the Knights’ backroom
operations last year, hopes that a white-hot South
Yorkshire derby atmosphere will tempt Sky Sports into a
speedy return to the Castle.
“It gives everyone a huge lift when the television
cameras are here and it’s just the sort of recognition
that Brett and the players deserve for their efforts this
season,” said Alred.
“They truly believe they can beat anyone in this division
and are gearing up for a genuine shot at the play-offs.
“It was 2008 when Sky last visited Castle Park for a live
game so it’s been a while since they were here.
“They’ll find a club that is growing from the bottom up
and the foundations are firmly in place for Doncaster
Knights to continue their success story.
“It’s great not just for the Knights that Sky are here,
but for the town in general,” he added.
“It helps put Doncaster on the map.
“But now we’ve enticed them back, we intend on keeping
them here!”
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Moderator
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| Posted: 21/02/2012 at 4:37pm | IP Logged
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It is interesting to note that no one has commented on how successful we were at getting close to the 5000 crowd we had targetted and. apart from "that kick", what a great day and atmosphere it was. I can guarantee that if we had only got a couple of thousand or we had made a mess of things there would be a number of subscribers with plenty to say.
So come on - what about a few words of praise for the efforts of our staff and volunteers on making it such a superb occasion.
John
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DAVE WHITE
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| Posted: 21/02/2012 at 11:27pm | IP Logged
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Thats a fair comment John.
What a great day and occasion for Doncaster Rugby.
Who would have believed a record 4000 crowd back when we
played in the Yorkshire leagues.I hold my hand up having
predicted only 3000 would turn up !!
Congratulations to Gareth and his team. I know its unlikely
but lets hope we get Rotherham and Leeds in the play offs
and it could be improved upon ??
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JonoS.Storey
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| Posted: 22/02/2012 at 8:59am | IP Logged
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There were more there at the Donny vs Driffield promotion winner takes all game back in the day!
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Dan.Grenslade
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| Posted: 22/02/2012 at 9:59am | IP Logged
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There was definitely more at the Donny vs Northern game when we got promoted to the National leagues! Are we really that much better off now than we were then?
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Paul.Mundy
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| Posted: 22/02/2012 at 10:07am | IP Logged
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I think that everyone is still getting over the shock of "That Kick" (and some iffy refereeing decisions) John.
Forgetting about the final result it was an excellent day and would love to see 4000 plus at every home game.
Don't forget John:
You can please all of the people some of the time and some of the people all of the time but you can't please all of the people all of the time.
Not forgetting that some people are never pleased no matter how much effort is put in.
Well done to all the sales, office, ground and catering staff at Castle Park for last Saturday.
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DAVE WHITE
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| Posted: 22/02/2012 at 7:31pm | IP Logged
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I'm fairly sure that was a record crowd.
Even that game against Northern was watched by less people
??
Anyone got official stats on this ??..
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