Donny kick season off with seven try spectacle in Edinburgh
19th September 2025
Doncaster Knights travelled to Edinburgh for their first of a preseason double header with the Scottish outfit. The Knights came out on top, winning 33-43 in a high scoring battle at The Hive.
It was the hosts that opened the scores, with their winger, Satala. He performed an impressive chip over the top, before chasing and collecting over the line. They added the conversion to go 7-0 up.
Thom Smith soon answered back with a try on his first game after injury. A well executed line out brought us up to the try line, before Smith picked the ball and drove over. 7-5.
Edinburgh then scored two more tries in quick succession. The first of which saw last season’s loan player, Tom Currie run in from out wide. Shortly after, inside centre, Matt Davidson broke into space and offloaded to supporting scrum half, Conor McAlpine. Both their tries were converted. 21-5.
Matt Mcnab kicked off the Knight’s comeback with a brilliant try on the wing. The forwards spent a number of phases drawing the defenders in and opening up the space. The backs then moved the ball out wide and McNab powered over in the corner. 21-10
Donny began to build on the momentum and another debut try shortly followed. Aidan Cross intercepted a loose ball and made a break up to the half way line. He moved the ball across to R Olowofela who went the distance for his first Donny try. Morgan Bunting added the extras. 21-17.
Rhys Tait led by example as today’s captain with a brilliant solo try. He powered through Edinburgh’s defence before shoving off the final defender and finishing the try. Bunting added the extras. 21-24.
Edinburgh kept the scores close with one final try before the half time whistle. The forwards spent some time trying to drive the ball over the line, before shipping it out to their backs to finish the job.
Half time score 28-24.
The Knights came out firing in the second half and were the first to cross the line. Aidan Cross earned himself a try in his home country after a quick ball from Bunting opened the space for McNab to break through. He fires the ball out to Cross, allowing him to finish in the corner. 28-34
Jordan Olowofela then scored arguably the try of the day, thanks to McNab and his twin brother. McMab carried up the wing and pulled off an unbelievable dive to avoid touch while offloading. R Olowofela received the ball and passed it out the backdoor to his twin. J Olowofela dotted it down under the sticks and Alex Dolly added the conversion. 28-36
Satala then scored another solo try for the hosts, by snatching a loose ball and speeding over the line. 33-36.
Donny soon began to attack again and a huge carry at the line from East Timor Viliamu drew in the defending forwards. Dolly fired the ball out to Kerr who displayed brilliant determination to ground the ball, despite three defenders trying to hold him up. Dolly added the conversion in the 79th minute and Donny kicked the ball out after the kick off.
Final score, Edinburgh 33 – 43 Doncaster Knights.
Special mention to our Academy Player Lonny Fenton for making his first team debut during today’s match!
Edinburgh will make the return journey to Castle Park next week for the second half of our pre season double header. It’s set to be a cracker after today’s try-fest!
Friday 26th September, 7PM KO, Castle Park.
1.Andrew Turner, 2. Fred Davies, 3.Joe Jones, 4. Ehize Ehizode, 5. Morgan Jones, 6. Josh Bainbridge, 7. Rhys Tait (C) 8. Thom Smith, 9. Ollie Fox. 10. Morgan Bunting, 11. Adian Cross, 12. Zach Kerr, 13. Joe Margetts, 14. Matt McNab, 15. Ryan Olowofela
16. George Roberts, 17. Jasper McGuire, 18. Lewis Thiede, 19. Adam Hopkinson, 20. East Timor Viliamu, 21. Ben Chapman, 22. Alex Dolly, 23. Russell Bennett, 24. Lonny Fenton, 25. Jordan Olowofela, 26. Josh Williams.
