Doncaster Knights 29 v Cambridge 19 by Guy Williams.
A red card against Doncaster centre Joe Margetts, mid-way through the second half, for a dangerous tackle on Cambridge centre Jamie Benson, was the major talking point at Castle Park where the Knights earned maximum points to claim their seventh league victory.
As Benson, who’d earlier scored two excellent tries for an enterprising Cambridge team, was on the attack again, he clashed with Margetts on 60 minutes.
Benson landed on his neck following a tip-tackle and required treatment, but then continued. The referee Hamish Grant was decisive and brandished a red card, and it’s likely that Margetts will be banned for more than a month.
Although Doncaster played 20 minutes with 14 men, and wasted several opportunities to add to their lead of 26-19, Cambridge were unable to take advantage of the Knights’ understrength.
Knight’s coach, Steve Boden, didn’t query the red card in his post-match comments.
“ I can’t argue. We know the laws of the game and where it’s going. There was no intent by Joe, but Benson steps inside him, it’s high and Joe has to look after him.
“ I’m really happy with five points, but we should have been scoring 50 points because of where we had the ball.
“ But it’s the same old thing. You can have as much possession as you like, but if you don’t do anything with it, you’ll suffer. However, I’m happy with our set-piece and parts of our defence and the fact we dominated field positions.”
In a decent first half, tries by fly half Billy McBryde, prop Conor Davidson, winger Jack Metcalf and centre Joe Bedlow, and three conversions from full back Russell Bennett, set up Doncaster’s win against adventurous and committed opponents.
Indeed, after Cambridge’s third try by number eight Nahum Merigan was converted, the teams were drawing 19-19,so Doncaster
were relieved when Bedlow,set up by his powerful pack on Cambridge’s line, spotted an opening to grab his team’s fourth try just before the interval.
A lead of 26-19 looked flimsy, and after throwing away five decent scoring opportunities, the Knights were more than grateful when Bennett put over a penalty in the 66th, points which opened up a gap of 10 points.
With Doncaster leading 29-19, Cambridge were chasing the game and attacked the Knights’ line on 75 minutes, but spoiled the opportunity when conceding a penalty, so Doncaster survived.
Doncaster Knights: Bennett 7, Metcalf 7(Vereimi 66 6), Margetts 5, Bedlow 7, Holden 6, McBryde 7, Fox 7(Dolly 47 6), Davidson 7(McArthur 76 6), Roberts 7(Terry 60 6), Barrett 7(Foster 60 6), Beckett 7(Brown 47 6), Ehizode 7(Mintern 60 6), Wilson 7, Tait 7(Hopkinson 66 6), Digby 7.
Cambridge: Caven 7, Asiedu 7, Hanks 7, Benson 8, Green 7, James 7, Duffin 7, Owen 7(Ellowood 50 7), Brownlie 7(Veness 55 7),Walker 7, Frost, Baxter 7(Adams 58 7), Bretag-Norris 7, Cardew 7(Dawson 55 7), Merigan 7(Maka 66 7).
Doncaster Knights: Tries: McBryde 10, Davidson 18, Metcalf 20, Bedlow 35. Conversions: Bennett 10, 18, 35. Penalty: Bennett 66.
Cambridge: Tries: Benson 7, 21,Merigan 30. Conversions: James 7, 30.
Half time: 26-19.
Penalties conceded:12-12.
Lineouts won: 13-11.
Lineouts lost: 1-2.
Scrums won: 4-2.
Scrums lost: 1-0.
Sin bin: Red card Doncaster centre Joe Margetts.
Referee: Hamish Grant.
Attendance: 1382.
Star man: Jamie Benson.
Referee: Hamish Grant.
