Doncaster show class with dominant second half performance in 9-try thriller.
23rd November 2024
With a tumultuous start to the day with the weather, the game promised to be a well fought affair, with the better team being the one to control the conditions the best and capitalise on their chances.
As both teams got to grips with the wind and drizzle, mistakes were made by both sides with plenty of first half scrums, testing both packs’ stamina.
It was slow out the blocks for the Knights though, as the home side used familiarity to their advantage, niggling away at Doncaster, and within 7 minutes of the game, caught the Knights on the back foot with a good move through the backs, allowing Will Robinson to take a hard line and ease through under the sticks. Caldy added the extras.
Doncaster responded quickly with a lineout to Caldy on their 22-meter line. Second row, Euan McVie, turned it over in the line as Dolly gathered it and hit Morgan Strong in the line, beating a few defenders and finishing under the sticks. Dolly converted simply.
Caldy regained front foot ball and camped themselves in the Knights’ 22 winning a few penalties, keeping it in the corner. They scored their second try of the game from a driving maul on the 5-meter line. Conversion missed due to a swirling wind.
A lull came in the game as the weather began to settle too, both teams conceding handling errors, but Doncaster piled on the pressure coming close on a couple of occasions.
The breakthrough for the Knights came with 5 minutes to go in the half, Zach Kerr breaking the line and jostling past defenders to finish a brilliant solo try. Dolly kept his 100% kick rate in the game.
Half-time, 12-14 to the Knights. With the rain stopping, Doncaster were only just getting started.
Doncaster applied early scoreboard pressure through Alex Dolly slotting a penalty from in front of the posts.
Caldy went a man down within 10 minutes of the second half to give Doncaster some continued momentum and capitalised immediately through loanee, Tom Currie, driving over the line from close quarters. Dolly, again, adding two more. 12-24.
The Knights did not give up and kept Caldy from entering their half, and after coming close once already, they came even closer, scoring in the corner after a brilliantly worked backs move thanks to Jordan Olowofela, securing the bonus point. Dolly battled the wind and slotted home the extras.
A number of changes from the Knights came on to pump more energy into the match, and off a lineout, Morgan Bunting completed a brilliant, missed pass for Rokoduguni to dive over the line and make the scoreline 12-38 after Dolly added two more.
More misery followed again for Caldy as they had another man in the bin, discipline going out the window. Knights came close twice more, dropping it over the line on both occasions.
One last moment of magic came for the Knights with a terrific line break from full back, Harry Davey, as he off-loaded it to Ollie Fox who nodded through a weak-foot, inch-perfect grubber for Morgan Bunting to run on to and touch in down in the try zone.
As a consolation, Caldy entered the Knights’ 22 for the first time in the second half, and made the most of it scoring another driving maul from the 5-meter line.
An incredible performance from Doncaster that Joe Ford described as, “another step in the right direction. This win was won by our forwards who grafted from minute 1 to 80. These are performances we know we’re capable of and are confident will carry on through the league.”
Full time: Caldy, 19-43 Doncaster Knights.
