Knights 25 Blues 19

Doncaster veteran Tom Davies lead the Knights out into glorious sunshine at Castle Park on his swan song home appearance after ten years with the Club. A hard fought victory over Bedford a fitting end to the loose head’s professional career and put some more gloss on a successful return to the Championship for the Knights

After a bright Doncaster start play was unfortunately held up for some time after two quite serious looking early injuries for the Blues. Firstly Justin Blanchet was forced from the field of play and then James Currie was stretchered off with a nasty looking injury, thankfully it was subsequently confirmed that the tight head had been given the all clear from the hospital shortly after full time.

The injuries interrupted the very early pace but the Knights certainly played the better rugby through the opening exchanges. Having dominated the possession Donny gained territory due to indiscipline in the Blues ranks and turned down several penalty shots at goal. It was after a penalty kick to the corner that the Knights scored the opening try of the day. A well-worked driving maul put them in touching distance before Latu Makaafi broke down the blind side to touch down. Dougie Flockhart produced a fine conversion to add the extras.

Bedford responded well and in the second quarter started to come to the fore, a handful of chances were created by the Blues back division including a well-weighted chip from fly half Jake Sharp that forced Paul Jarvis to run the ball out of bounds in his own 22m. The resulting line out might have provided the Blues opening score were it not for a solid turnover and impressive break from Brad Field. The number nine carried from his own goal area in to the Bedford half before handing on to Bevon Armitage and in the next phase of play the visiting defence was pinged for offside. The Knights went to touch but when they won another penalty after Bedford illegally stopped the driving line out Dougie Flockhart elected to go at goal and calmly added the three points.

With half time fast approaching Bedford ensured they would not go back in to the changing rooms on nil points and gave an almost instant reply to the Flockhart penalty. Having forced a turnover, they quickly moved possession across the back line before chipping ahead of the Knights defensive line. Winger Dean Adamson set off in pursuit and was able to round Paul Jarvis to collect and touch down. Sharp added the extras and the teams headed in to the interval with the game finely poised at 10-7.

Having undoubtedly received stern instruction from Griff during the break the Knights made a flying start to the second period and battled their way into the Bedford half. The ball made its way to centre Bevon Armitage who broke powerfully before handing on to midfield partner Mat Clark. Clark carried the move forward and then freed up Tyson Lewis to gallop over in the corner.

Despite the early score the Blues seemed to have the initiative in the second period and regularly applied pressure with some powerful carries; notably from number eight Hayden Thompson-Stringer. The pressure eventually told when a penalty was put to the corner and Bedford veteran Paul Tupai crashed through at the back of the driving maul. With a successful conversion from Sharp the visitors trailed by just one point.

Following the score both coaches made a number of changes, the personnel switch seemed to aid the Knights fortunes in the set piece and Phil Eggleshaw made a difference with a number of telling carries. Doncaster put some daylight between themselves and the Blues when Flockhart converted a scrum penalty in the Bedford half before scoring what would be the match-winning try.

Ume Fosita made good yards with the boot following a penalty for offside and when Michael Hills was taken in the air at the subsequent line out the Tongan was able to put his pack right into the corner. Thompson-Stringer was sent to the sin-bin after he illegally pulled down an established Knights maul and following the penalty the Donny pack looked to pick and drive at the Bedford line. Matt Challinor has proved himself to be nigh on unstoppable from close range and it was the case once again as the Knights Club Captain touched down with less that ten minutes to play.

The loudest applause of the day came on 72 minutes when Jack Bergmanas replaced Tom Davies as the prop forward received a standing ovation upon leaving the pitch but Bedford had intentions of spoiling the party. Restored to a full compliment, quick thinking from Harry wells saw the second row take a quick penalty and with the Knights defense stretched the ball was spun wide. Possession made it’s way in to the hands of captain Nick Fenton-Wells, the Blues skipper barged through a half gap for the score. Baden Kerr’s conversion bounce wide off the upright and the Knights held on to claim their third win of the season over the Blues.

Moseley’s win over Plymouth means the Albion’s fate in sealed and they will play next season in National One but will be sure to want to go out on a high as they host the Knights on the last day of the season next Saturday.

Match Statistics

Knights XV 15) Paul Jarvis, 14) Dougie Flockhart, 13) Mat Clark, 12) Bevon Armitage, 11) Tyson Lewis, 10) Ume Fosita (Paul Roberts 72’), 9) Brad Field (Tomasi Palu 66’), 1) Tom Davies (Jack Bergmanas 72), 2) Harry Thacker (Ben Hunter 52’), 3) WillGriff John (Colin Quigley 52’), 4) Matt Challinor 5) Tyler Hotson, 6) Latu Makaafi (Phil Eggleshaw 54’), 7) Michael Hills ©, 8) Ollie Stedman.

Replacements; 16) Jack Bergmanas, 17) Ben Hunter, 18) Phil Eggleshaw, 19) Colin Quigley 20) Will Foden, 21) Paul Roberts, 22) Tomasi Palu.

Tries; Makaafi 10’, Lewis 44’, Challinor 71’

Conv; Flockhart 10’, 71′

Pens; Flockhart 36’, 65’

Blues XV; 15. Steffan Jones, ?14. Pat Tapley?, 13. Henry Staff (Ollie Dodge 45’), ?12. Mike Le Bourgeois, ?11. Dean Adamson?, 10. Jake Sharp (Baden Kerr 62’), ?9. Luke Baldwin (Darryl Veenendaal 62’), 1. Camilo Parilli-Ocampo (Tom Williams 66’),?2. Charlie Clare (TJ Harris 57’)?3. James Currie (Phil Boulton 4’), ?4. Mike Howard?5. Harry Wells, 6. Justin Blanchet (Paul Tupai 2’), 7. Nick Fenton-Wells (c)? 8. Hayden Thompson-Stringer

Replacements: 16. TJ Harris, ?17. Tom Williams, ?18. Phil Boulton? 19. Paul Tupai, ?20. Darryl Veenendaal, ?21. Baden Kerr, ?22. Ollie Dodge

Tries; Adamson 37’, Tupai 52’, Fenton-wells 76′

Conv; Sharp 38’, 52’

Pens

Sin Bin; Hayden Thompson-Stringer

Attendance: 1,569