The Doncaster Knights Mini Juniors U13s team have done fantastically to recently maintain their unbeaten run whilst competing in the Southport Rugby Festival.

Head Coach Lee Gray said: “I along with Colleen have been involved with this team since the under 7’s which is the beginning of the rugby journey starting with tag rugby. We have steadily built a team, retaining players season after season and adding to the coaching team with Dean, Stevie, Allan and Devon.

“Over the last two years being the under 12’s and under 13’s, the team has achieved two unbeaten seasons which include two tours, one to play in the Ospreys Challenge then more recently as the under 13’s to play in the sports tours Southport rugby festival.

“The team is run by dedicated volunteers and, through fundraising and sponsorship, it has been possible to take the boys not only on these tours but also to provide fun tour kits and many memorable moments for the kids.

“At the recent waterfall tournament in Southport, the team not only did themselves proud but also the club by winning the cup and doing so without losing a game getting the grad slam. The sportsmanship and team spirt shown was second to none!”

A fantastic well done to all players, staff, families, and local businesses involved for their dedicated work and support.

Doncaster Knights’ 2022/23 season came to an end this afternoon with a 32-0 loss to Ealing Trailfinders in London in the Semi-Final of the Championship Cup.

Ealing first of the day came within 7 minutes. Chasing a ball through the line in the Knights 22, Reuben Bird-Tulloch nudged the ball a second time to avoid George Simpson and collected over the line to score. Luke Daniels then converted.

They added a penalty on 26 minutes after the Knights were called for hinging at the scrum and Daniels went for the posts.

A minute shy of half an hour, Ealing second came when they collected a short chip kick over the line meant for the Knights. Recycling quickly, Jonah Holmes found a gap to run in the score underneath the posts with Daniels then converting.

The third came four minutes later. Playing on from a potential knock-on, the hosts recycled amongst the Knights confusion – breaking into the 22 before finding space for Bird-Tulloch to cross for his second of the day. Daniels then converted the score.

A penalty with 2 minutes until half time after the Knights were penalised for off-side allowed Daniels to secure a 27-0 half-time lead.

Yellow cards were dealt out throughout the second half – the first coming on 45 minutes when Ealing’ Ollie Newman was sent from the field for a high tackle.

The next major sway in play came just after the hour as Conor Davidson took blame for repeated pack infringements at the scrum as he was sent to the sin bin. Jake Armstrong followed a few minutes later for an identical issue.

The last points of the day however came on 71 minutes. The hosts came around the corner of the scrum, stealing the Donny ball. Holmes received a pass on the wing and went over the whitewash in the corner in a crush of Knights tacklers but the ref signalled the score.

Despite an extremely dogged fight, showing some real guts in the second half, it wasn’t to be for the Doncaster men as their season ends on defeat in knockout rugby in the capital.

 

Ealing Trailfinders XV | 15 Cian Kelleher; 14 Luke Daniels, 13 Max Bodily, 12 Reuben Bird-Tulloch, 11 Jonah Holmes; 10 Dan Lancaster, 9 Craig Hampson; 1 James Gibbons, 2 Shaun Malton, 3 Lewis Thiede, 4 Bobby De Wee, 5 David O’Connor, 6 Adam Korczyk, 7 Ollie Newman, 8 Simon Uzokwe.

Replacements | 16 Alun Walker, 17 Will Davis, 18 George Davis, 19 Barney Maddison, 20 Simon Linsell, 21 Jordan Burns, 22 Steven Shingler, 23 Jack Digby.

Pens: Daniels 2

Tries: Bird-Tulloch 2, Holmes 2

Cons: Daniels 3

Yellow card: Ollie Newman

 

Starting XV | 15 Billy McBryde; 14 George Simpson, 13 Joe Margetts, 12 Connor Edwards, 11 Maliq Holden; 10 Sam Olver, 9 Alex Dolly; 1 Conor Davidson, 2 George Roberts, 3 Andrew Foster, 4 Ehize Ehizode, 5 Ben Murphy, 6 Rhys Tait, 7 Thom Smith, 8 John Kelly.

Replacements | 16 Will Holling, 17 Jake Pope, 18 Jake Armstrong, 19 Sam Daly, 20 Jared Cardew, 21 Will Yarnell, 22 Robbie Smith, 23 Harry Davey.

Yellow card: Conor Davidson, Jake Armstrong.

 

Referee: Harry Walbaum

Castle Park is excited to next weekend host a weekend of Yorkshire Rugby games.

Kicking off on May 13, there will ultimately be 6 games played on either Saturday or Sunday, May 14.

On Saturday:

Senior Women in Gill Burns County Championship (KO 2pm)

Senior Men in Bill Beaumont County Championship (KO 4pm)

On Sunday:

Yorkshire Vase (KO 11am)

Silver Trophy (KO 1pm)

Yorkshire Shield (KO 3pm)

Yorkshire Cup (KO 5pm)

Tickets will cost £10 for adults, £6 for concessions and all Under 18s FREE. You can book yours HERE now.

We are excited to announce that lock Ben Murphy will be staying with Doncaster Knights for the 2023/24 season.

27-year-old Ben arrived from Cardiff Rugby in the United Rugby Championship part-way through last season in November 2021 as the Knights suffered injury problems in the pack.

Having played 19 times for the Welsh province he joined from, Ben has now racked up 25 Knights appearances having quickly impressed fans and endeared himself to teammates throughout his first season.

Ben came into pre-season with no sense of diminished drive and was an integral part of the first half of the season before injury struck in a training session, he was ruled out for a couple months. Returning to the field last weekend at Castle Park, it was clear that Ben’s brutal style of play was very much still intact, despite his time in the rehab room.

And so, the forward is ready to spend another season giving his best to the Knights shirt.

“I’m excited to have signed for Doncaster Knights for another season. I’ve loved my time here so far – Doncaster has become a home from home.

“This has been a tough year with results not going out way and spending most of the second half of the season injured, but I can’t wait to fly into next season and do all I can in aiding the team in pushing for the top spot.

“I’m also looking forward to playing in front of a packed Castle Park, where the fans have been so welcoming to me and my family.”

Knights Head Coach Steve Boden is pleased to have one of his pack leaders staying at Castle Park.

“We’re really delighted that Ben is staying on board after a tough period of injury this year. He’s fought really hard to bounce back and get some rugby at the back end of the season and that’s testament to the sort of guy he is.

“He works extremely hard, is an unbelievable team member – both on and off the pitch – and so we’re delighted to secure his services for next season. We think he represents everything Doncaster Knights should be about – hard-working, humble, and a good teammate.”

We are excited to see what Ben can continue to bring to the Knights badge throughout next season.

If you’d like to see Ben in action at Castle Park, be sure to purchase your season ticket HERE.

Doncaster Knights have named their team for the semi-final of the Championship Cup against Ealing Trailfinders at the Trailfinders Sports Club.

Head Coach Steve Boden has made 10 changes to the starting line-up that lost out to Ealing at Castle Park in the final game of the league season last weekend.

The front row will see Conor Davidson, George Roberts and Andrew Foster all start. Ehize Ehizode returns to the second row alongside Ben Murphy. The back row will then be formed by Rhys Tait, co-captain Thom Smith and John Kelly.

Alex Dolly and co-captain Sam Olver return to the starting line-up as the ever-familiar half-back duo. Maliq Holden returns to the wing alongside George Simpson with Billy McBryde moving back to fullback. The comfortable pairing of Connor Edwards – earning his 50th Knights appearance – and Joe Margetts returns in the centre.

The bench is once more a 5-3. Jake Pope, Will Holling and Jake Armstrong form the replacement front row. The rest of the pack is covered by Sam Daly and Jared Cardew.

Meanwhile the backs are provided cover by Will Yarnell, Robbie Smith and Harry Davey.

Kick-off is at 15:00 at Trailfinders Sports Club on Saturday, May 6, and live updates will be available on our Twitter throughout the match.

 

Starting XV | 15 Billy McBryde; 14 George Simpson, 13 Joe Margetts, 12 Connor Edwards, 11 Maliq Holden; 10 Sam Olver, 9 Alex Dolly; 1 Conor Davidson, 2 George Roberts, 3 Andrew Foster, 4 Ehize Ehizode, 5 Ben Murphy, 6 Rhys Tait, 7 Thom Smith, 8 John Kelly.

Replacements | 16 Will Holling, 17 Jake Pope, 18 Jake Armstrong, 19 Sam Daly, 20 Jared Cardew, 21 Will Yarnell, 22 Robbie Smith, 23 Harry Davey.

We are excited to announce that fullback/fly-half Billy McBryde will be staying with Doncaster Knights for the 2023/24 season.

26-year-old Billy joined the Knights in the summer of 2020 as the Welsh Premiership’s top points scorer having notched up 163 points, including 6 tries, for RGC 1404. In his spell with the North Wallian side, he also played 50 consecutive games.

Having developed through the Scarlets and Llanelli youth divisions, since arriving in Doncaster, Billy has become a firm fan-favourite as his performances on the pitch and friendly demeanour off the turf quickly endeared him to the Castle Park crowd.

Starting this season facing injury issues and new competition, Billy’s commitment to regaining full-fitness and his playing merits have seen him claim the fullback berth on consecutive occasions throughout the second half of the season and he ultimately made his 50th Knights appearance at Paton Field against Caldy a couple of weeks ago.

The back is ready to get cracking on another season representing the Knights badge.

“I’m delighted to have re-signed for another season. Doncaster has played a huge role in my life for the last 3 seasons, and I can’t thank the coaches enough for every opportunity to play professional rugby and represent the club for another season.

“All be it a disappointing season for us, the foundations that have been set over the last few years will allow us to grow and compete. I’m confident we have the squad to do something special and I’m excited to see a lot of my teammates re-signing.

“To play at Castle Park in front of the home fans is also extremely exciting and I look forward to that continued support next season.”

Knights Head Coach Steve Boden is looking forward to having one of his main squad leaders secured for another season.

“We’re really happy that Billy is staying on board next season. It’s been well-documented that he’s a consistent performer for us – he brings a cool head and some calmness to our team.

“He’s as comfortable at 10 as he is at 15, so that gives us a bit of flexibility in how we pick a side and we feel that he’s the right fit for our environment. We feel that he’s a really good bloke who drives high standards and is a very good teammate – which sounds very basic, but it’s important and a big part of what we look for at Doncaster Knights.”

Our thanks to SK Tax Services who have been Billy’s player sponsor throughout the 2022/23 season.

We are excited to see what Billy can continue to bring to the Knights badge throughout next season.

If you’d like to see Billy in action at Castle Park, be sure to purchase your season ticket HERE.