Doncaster Knights score eight tries to get maximum points in the return of the Championship at Castle Park.
30th November 2024
Despite Cambridge scoring the first points of the game with an early penalty, the Knights quickly found their feet to begin a dominant try scoring spectacle.
Joe Jones was the first Knight to cross the line with a strong carry to squeeze over after the forwards spent many phases trying to push through. Russell Bennett added the extras.
Doncaster continued to build on the momentum of the first score as George Roberts caught an overthrown Cambridge ball at the line out. The hooker shipped the ball out to the backs, which allowed them to put Doncaster within the 22. Bennett then kicked a penalty into the 5m line, and Thom Smith showed great determination to score from the back of a driving maul. Bennett added the extras again.
Just a few minutes later, the Knights extended the lead again as Connor Edwards ran onto the ball at great pace to carry hard, he shipped the ball to Rhys Tait to open up space. Tait then popped it back to Edwards, allowing him to finish his try. Followed by another conversion from Bennett.
Cambridge began to show some fight in their attack, and they managed to work up to the 5m line. Doncaster made tackle after tackle to hold the visitors out and when two driving mauls still couldn’t get them over the line, they opt for a cross-field kick. Jordan Olowofela beats Cambridge to the ball and the half time whistle went, leaving Cambridge without a try at the break (21-3).
Not even a minute into the second half Doncaster began scoring again. Zach Kerr, ran a fantastic hard line into space, showing incredible speed to score a try almost identical to last week at Caldy. Bennett extends the lead with another two points.
The Knights defend yet another Cambridge maul at the 5m mark, however, the visitors soon attack again and get a try. They attempted a cross field kick which was caught by Olowofela, however he chucked the ball back in play to prevent him carrying it into touch and Cambridge dove on it before a Knight could reach it. They added the extras.
Donny answered back very quickly with a counter attack. Semesa Rokoduguni chucked an offload mid-tackle to Telusa Veainu, Veainu then carried at speed before offloading to support runner, Alex Dolly. Dolly then finished well as he grounded the ball, despite a Cambridge defender clinging on to him. Another successful conversion from Bennett.
Morgan Strong extended the Knights lead in what has become a signature Morgan Strong try. He made the break, palmed off a defender and powered over the line, as seen many times before from him. Bennett added the extras to complete his 100% success rate off the T.
Cambridge claw one try back as they moved the ball quickly down the line and found space to attack up the wing. They added the conversion to complete their 17 points for the day.
Jordan Olowofela then worked his magic to end on a high for the Knights, with two consecutive tries. The first came as Connor Edwards swept up a loose ball and broke into space, he moved the ball to Wacokecoke, who then drew in Cambridge defence and tipped the ball to Arthur Green. Green then popped the ball to Olowofela, opening the gap for him to run in the try.
Olowofela’s second was a speedy carry up the wing after he received a well delayed pass from Kerr. Morgan Bunting’s conversion hit the post.
The Knights take to the road again next week as they head to Chinnor for the first time. But, you can get tickets for the following week, when Doncaster return to Castle Park for a Christmas clash against Caldy.