Doncaster Knights secured a 38-11 win over new-boys Cambridge in Round One of the 2023/24 Premiership Rugby Cup.

Match highlights available HERE.

A 1,156 strong crowd at Castle Park watched on as the Knights started slowly in the first half, taking until the second quarter to truly get into the groove of their play.

It was a relatively calm opening five minutes for the two sides. The Knights displayed some clean handling in the back-line before using the scrum to exit their own 22 when Cambridge hit back.

Working their way quickly up-field, the Knights went for the maul option upon gaining a lineout in the far corner. Slightly strangely, it was winger George Simpson who peeled off the back of the set to dot down for the opening score.

A profitable spell for Cambridge followed as, looking to get their footing in the Knights 22, they were awarded a penalty for an infringement from the hosts at the ruck and Steff James slotted the three points.

Cambridge added another on 25 minutes played. Not releasing at the ruck was the call against the Knights on their 10m line, and James again opted for the posts.

The aerial battle was well utilised by both sides as 30 minutes ticked by. Lovely work from Alex Dolly under a high ball was backed up by a nice break from new boys AJ Cant and Jack Digby before a forward pass was called against the Doncaster men.

On 38 minutes, the Knights nudged back in front. A break from nowhere from Rhys Tait secured the Knights territory in the opposition 22, with an ankle tap bring him down short of the whitewash.

Feeding Dolly from the floor, his support man was also torn down just short. Sam Olver then spotted Maliq Holden alone on the wing, flinging a spiral pass out to his man to run in the score which Dolly then converted.

Fighting for more, even with the clock in the red, paid off for the Knights. Camped out on the Cambridge line, the Knights bid their time before Tait was given the ball with a gap in front of him to barge through and score to the right of the posts. Dolly’s conversion then brought the half to an end.

The Donny men were straight onto the board in the second 40 minutes. It was purely classic Sam Olver. You think he’s going for the corner with a penalty opportunity before he spun around to spot his man of the wing.

George Simpson collected and tipped off to Cant for the run-in. The new man had to wriggle around in the tackle but ultimately dotted down above his head. Dolly was the trusty boot adding the extras.

Just minutes later, the full-back added another to his name. A fast break through the line in the middle of the field from Dolly set the move going. Recycling on the edge of the visitor’s 22, it wasn’t long before Cant had the ball in hand with space to run it in on the wing.

A yellow card to Maliq Holden hampered the Knights for 10 minutes, and Cambridge took advantage of the man-down to score their only try of the day as replacement hooker Morgan Veness ploughed over a the bottom of a heap from a maul.

On 72 minutes, the Knights scored their final try of the evening. Injecting pace from who knows where, Seb Nagle-Taylor stormed down the wing. Holding his pass with perfect precision, he fed Holden in order to allow the winger to scamper in on a curved run underneath the posts.

Dolly’s conversion ended the day 38-11 in the Knights’ favour. A bonus-point win at home will certainly give the Doncaster men some confidence heading into two back-to-back away games.

 

Knights XV | 15 AJ Cant; 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 Adam Hopkinson, 5 Ben Murphy, 6 Harry Wilson, 7 Rhys Tait, 8 Jack Digby.

Replacements | 16 Harri Morris, 17 Harrison Courtney, 18 Corrie Barrett, 19 Ehize Ehizode, 20 Fyn Brown, 21 Ollie Fox, 22 Harry Davey, 23 Seb Nagle-Taylor.

Tries: Simpson, Holden 2, Tait, Cant 2

Conv: Dolly 4

Yellow card: Maliq Holden

 

Cambridge XV | 15 Joe Tarrant; 14 Eli Caven, 13 Matthew Hema, 12 Sam Hanks, 11 Joe Green; 10 Steff James, 9 Kieran Duffin; 1 Seb Brownhill, 2 Ben Brownlie, 3 Billy Walker, 4 George Bretag-Norris, 5 Gareth Baxter, 6 Noah Sloot, 7 Ben Adams, 8 Jared Cardew.

Replacements | 16 Morgan Veness, 17 Jake Ellwood, 18 Matty Collins, 19 Archie Strath, 25 Jed Gelderbloom, 21 Toby Dabell, 22 Matty Williams, 23 Rian Hamilton.

Pens: James 2

Tries: Veness

We’re delighted our matchday programme for tonight’s game against Cambridge at Castle Park is OUT NOW.

You can be prepared in advance of the match, by reading through our digital programme if you click HERE.

We have joined the fantastic Zeeon platform for the season, enabling us to bring you lots of interactive content for each game.

If you’ve not already got your tickets, then buy yours HERE.

Doncaster Knights have named their team for Round 1 of the 2023/24 Premiership Rugby Cup – their opening game of the season for which they welcome Cambridge to Castle Park.

Director of Rugby Steve Boden and Head Coach Joe Ford have named their first side with 3 debutants involved in the starting line-up and a further 6 to come off the bench.

The front row is one of experienced Knights with Conor Davidson at loosehead, Andrew Foster at tighthead and George Roberts – gaining his 50th appearance – between the two at hooker.

Adam Hopkinson, having graduated from the Knights Academy to a First Team contract in the summer, joins Ben Murphy in the second row.

The back row is full of new signings as Harry Wilson and Rhys Tait occupy the flanks with newly announced co-captain Jack Digby at eight.

The half-back duo is the settled and familiar pairing of Alex Dolly at scrum half and co-captain Sam Olver at fly-half.

Maliq Holden and George Simpson occupy the wings with summer signing AJ Cant behind the two at full-back. The centre partnership is another welcome sight for Knights fans as Connor Edwards starts alongside Joe Margetts.

On the bench, it’s a completely new-look replacement front row in the hands of hooker Harri Morris – on a season-long loan from Edinburgh Rugby – with summer signing props Harrison Courtney and Corrie Barrett.

Further forward replacement options come in the form of Ehize Ehizode with new signings Fyn Brown and Seb Nagle-Taylor.

New signing scrum half Ollie Fox and the familiar face of Harry Davey round out the bench as the back options.

Kick-off is at 19:30 at Castle Park on Friday, September 8, and live updates will be available on our Twitter throughout the match.

 

Starting XV | 15 AJ Cant; 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 Adam Hopkinson, 5 Ben Murphy, 6 Harry Wilson, 7 Rhys Tait, 8 Jack Digby.

Replacements | 16 Harri Morris, 17 Harrison Courtney, 18 Corrie Barrett, 19 Ehize Ehizode, 20 Fyn Brown, 21 Ollie Fox, 22 Harry Davey, 23 Seb Nagle-Taylor.

We are delighted to announce Sam Olver and Jack Digby have been named the 2023/24 Knights Co-Captains.

The experienced fly half and newly signed back rower will work together to lead the Knights squad through the season.

Discussing their selection, both players were delighted to take on the mantel.

Sam Olver: “I’m really excited to be co-captaining with Digger this year.

“Pre-season has filled me with a lot of confidence about this squad and it’s been really nice getting to know all the new lads.

“There’s a lot of players that we will be able to rely on in a leadership term as well, so that will make the job easier for us.”

Jack Digby: “I’m really excited to be taking on the role.

“Being new to the club, it’s been fantastic having not only Sam but other senior players to bounce ideas off and help the tea, prepare as best as possible.

“I feel everything is in place to have a really successful season and all I want is to be able to facilitate that as best I can, on and off the field.”

We’re excited to announce the Knights will be doing Zeeon for all programmes ahead of the 2023/24 season.

Zeeon is an extremely engaging platform and we look forward to seeing all the kinds of new and inspiring content we will be able to produce for our supporters and sponsors.

Will Biggs, Managing Director and Founder of Zeeon, is also thrilled about the prospect of working with the Knights.

He said: “We’re very excited to be working alongside Doncaster Knights in their matchday programmes for the 2023/24 season. We want to make it easier for fans to access match information, engage with squad lineups, and consume the club’s content.”

For more information on Zeeon, click HERE.

We are sad to announce that former First XV prop Terry Oades has passed away.

Terry played for the club in the 1960s. Also responsible for building and maintenance work on the old clubhouse, his efforts earned him a chain gang awards tie in 1988.

Our condolences go to his wife Shirley and his family at this sad time.

Terry’s funeral will be held at 12 noon on Wednesday, August 30 at Everton Church to be followed by a private family burial.

We are excited to announce all Knights season ticket holders will receive free entry to all Doncaster Phoenix home games for the 2023/24 season.

All supporters will have to do is show their season ticket card (physical or digital) at the gate on Phoenix gamedays to gain their free entry to enjoy some great rugby at Castle Park.

Phoenix Chairman Dave Thomas said: “We look forward to welcoming Knights season ticket holders to our home games this season.

“We know a number of supporters are unable to travel to Knights’ away games, or there may be Saturdays when Phoenix are the only team playing locally – so please get along and cheer us on.”

We hope our supporters will take up this generous offer from Phoenix and give support to a great club, starting with their game against Sandal on Saturday, September 2.

Be sure to collect your physical season ticket from our reception at Castle Park (Mon-Fri, 8:30-11:30) or digitally download it to make the most of this offer.

We are pleased to confirm 2023/24 season tickets are now available for collection or digital download.

Make sure you are prepared for the beginning of the Knights new season on Friday, September 8 by collecting or downloading your card now.

For physical card collection:

Season ticket cards can now be collected from reception at Castle Park between the hours of 8:30 and 11:30 every Monday to Friday.

For digital download:

You can now keep your ticket safe with our Knights’ Ticketing App (recommended to use a mobile device).

Click HERE, insert the email address with which you purchased your ticket and then click on ‘Forgot Credentials’.

You will then be sent an email to re-set your password.

Log into the app with your email address and new password.

Install the app onto your phone’s home screen.

Upon arrival at the ground for each home game, open your app to view your tickets and scan for entry to Castle Park.

If you have any queries or issues regarding your season ticket, please call the club on 01302 831388.

Doncaster Knights have named their large travelling squad for the friendly against RGC in North Wales ahead of the 2023/24 season.

DoR Steve Boden and Head Coach Joe Ford have named a starting 15 alongside a replacements bench of 17 players to ensure game-time for as many faces as possible.

The starting front row is formed by new signings Harrison Courtney and Corrie Barrett at loosehead and tighthead with the familiar face of George Roberts between the two at hooker.

Knights Academy graduate Adam Hopkinson has experienced Ben Murphy alongside him in the second row pairing.

The back row of all new signings then rounds out the pack with Harry Wilson and Fyn Brown on the flanks and Seb Nagle-Taylor at number eight.

Alex Dolly sits in his usual scrum half berth with Billy McBryde moving forward in the back-line to start at fly-half.

Knight Academy player Will Metcalfe mans the wing opposite Maliq Holden with new boy AJ Cant at fullback.

A slightly new centre pairing is tested as Connor Edwards has Harry Davey starting outside of him.

The bench is a large one – beginning with prop replacement options of Conor Davidson, Andrew Foster, Karl Garside and Knights Academy’s Calvin Mitchell.

Hooker replacements are new loan signing Harri Morris and Knights Academy’s Archie Upton.

The second row is covered by Ehize Ehizode, Evan Mintern and Knights Academy’s James Harrison.

Back row is then provided cover by Rhys Tait and new boys Jack Digby and Archie Smeaton.

Moving into the backs, Ollie Fox covers scrum half with Sam Olver and Knights Academy’s Tom Parkin ready to come on at fly half.

The replacements are then rounded out by Joe Margetts and loan signing Joe Bedlow.

Kick-off is at 17:15 at Stadiwm CSM on Saturday, Aug 19, and live updates will be available on our Twitter throughout the match.

 

Starting XV | 15 AJ Cant; 14 Maliq Holden, 13 Harry Davey, 12 Connor Edwards, 11 Will Metcalfe; 10 Billy McBryde, 9 Alex Dolly; 1 Harrison Courtney, 2 George Roberts, 3 Corrie Barrett, 4 Adam Hopkinson, 5 Ben Murphy, 6 Harry Wilson, 7 Fyn Brown, 8 Seb Nagle-Taylor.

Replacements | 16 Harri Morris, 17 Conor Davidson, 18 Andrew Foster, 19 Evan Mintern, 20 Ehize Ehizode, 21 Ollie Fox, 22 Joe Margetts, 23 Archie Smeaton, Rhys Tait, Jack Digby, Tom Parkin, Sam Olver, Joe Bedlow, Calvin Mitchell, Karl Garside, James Harrison, Archie Upton.

We are delighted to officially launch our 1875 Club.

The 1875 Club is our newest hospitality offer for supporters looking to enhance their match day experience in a relaxed and social surrounding at Castle Park. 

With a delicious menu, superb pitch views and an electric atmosphere, our 1875 Club will be a fine choice for a matchday at Castle Park.

What’s included:

• Locally sourced, seasonal two-course meal
• Private cash bar
• Digital Matchday Programme & Teamsheet
• Complimentary Tea & Coffee
• Private Balcony View of the Pitch

Dress code: Informal, Club shirts welcome

Please note: You must have a match ticket for access.

You can make your upgrade now by clicking HERE.