Knights Put 50 Points on Board Against Bedford at Castle Park

It was a Knights team out to put their best foot forward, and there were certainly instances of them getting back to barnstorming form as they charted a 50-19 victory over Bedford Blues at Castle Park.

After a strong start, with the backs combining well and the forwards asserting their dominance at the scrum, it was on 9 minutes played that the Knights first crossed the line.

A charging break and run from Thom Smith got the Donny men well into the 22 before Alex Dolly whipped the ball over some heads out to the wing for Jared Cardew to run in the score. The first attempt at the tee of the day from Sam Olver was successful, and the conversion added the extras.

Bedford struck back quickly as George Hendy got underneath a high ball. He evaded several tackles and off-loaded at speed to Dean Adamson to finish off the score with Will Maisey’s conversion to add to the tally.

Knights were next on the board through John Kelly – back in his #8 shirt and at his back-row best. The pack were looking for the call at the scrum underneath Bedford’s posts, but Kelly took matters into his own hands as he tore off the back to barge his way through and dot down one-handed. Olver’s extras made it the full points.

The opposition made the most of a Knights penalty for kicking the ball out of the ruck and the hosts being walked back a further 10 yards for talking back as Jac Arthur made quick work of going over under the posts, allowing Maisey an easy conversion kick.

The Knights were reduced to 14 men 10 minutes before half time as Maliq Holden was sent to the bin for foul play in his own half. However, Bedford were not able to capitalise as they were penalised for being offside at their lineout and the Knights were able to claim a set-piece of their own instead.

Doncaster pulled ahead just shy of half time as another dominant carry from Thom Smith had the back-rower smashing down over the line with Bedford tacklers hanging off the back of his jersey. With Olver’s conversion, the score read 21-14.

The half didn’t come to an end quite quick enough for Bedford as in a jumble of confusion – with attempted interceptions and seemingly deliberate trips – Huw Taylor was deemed by the ref to have played cynically and was shown a yellow card.

A minute shy of half-time, the Knights scored the bonus point. Playing the ball just shy of the line, with the backs looking to be in formation, Ehize Ehizode – on fantastic form – used brute strength to cross underneath the posts.

Olver used as much time as possible for the conversion, bringing the half to an end with a successful kick to send the sides in with Donny leading 28-14.

Bedford’s discipline took another knock very early in the second half as this time it was Joey Conway who was punished for repeated scrum infringements and was sent to the bin.

The Knights took advantage within a minute as a clean lineout throw, and backs charging in to add extra weight to the driving maul, saw the Knights drive over with George Edgson the man to emerge from the bottom of the pile. Olver added the conversion to further the hosts’ lead.

Bedford secured one more try to end their day’s scoring. The Knights looked to defend a Blues’ driving maul in their 22, meaning their focus was distracted from the wing which allowed Sean French the opportunity to charge down it and run-in the score.

The one penalty kick of the day came just shy of 60 minutes played as Olver perfectly split the uprights when the Knights were awarded a call for a deliberate knock-on from the visitors.

As the hour mark passed, the Knights were on the board again. They nipped down the wing with pace off the back of the lineout, combining passes well until Kelly was the man to launch his body weight over the line for the score. Olver’s conversion took the Knights to 45 points scored.

With 7 minutes left to play, Bedford’s line was reduced once more as Jac Arthur was the latest man sent to the sin bin, this time for foul play.

As the clock reached the red and regular time had passed, the Knights were dogged in their hunt for one last score to breach the 50-point mark. Helped by another yellow card for Bedford – Sean French leaving the field for a deliberate knock-on at the line – the Knights had one last lineout to take their chance from.

And the hard work paid off as replacement hooker Will Holling held the ball at the back of the driving maul and was the man to touch down for the impressive seventh try.

A strong performance at home to take into a by-week, Steve Boden will be hoping this inspires his side to another strong outing in their next match against Jersey Reds at the Stade Santander on Oct 21.

Match Statistics

Knights XV | 15 Harry Davey; 14 George Simpson, 13 Robbie Smith, 12 Connor Edwards, 11 Maliq Holden; 10 Sam Olver, 9 Alex Dolly; 1 Ben Carlile, 2 George Edgson, 3 Jake Armstrong, 4 Ehize Ehizode, 5 Ben Murphy, 6 Thom Smith, 7 Jared Cardew, 8 John Kelly.

Replacements | 16 Will Holling, 17 Jake Pope, 18 Karl Garside, 19 Evan Mintern, 20 Martin Sigren, 21 Joe Green, 22 Joe Margetts, 23 Alec Lloyd-Seed.

Tries: Cardew, Kelly 2, T Smith, Ehizode, Edgson, Holling

Cons: Olver 6

Pens: Olver

Yellow card: Maliq Holden

Bedford Blues XV | 15 George Hendy; 14 Sean French, 13 Ethan Grayson, 12 Michael Le Bourgeois, 11 Dean Adamson; 10 Will Maisey, 9 Alex Day; 1 Joey Conway, 2 Jack Hughes, 3 Corrie Barrett, 4 Robin Williams, 5 Jordan Onojaife, 6 Huw Taylor, 7 Jac Arthur, 8 Tui Uru.

Replacements | 16 Jacob Fields, 17 Lewis Holsey, 18 Ed Prowse, 19 Chukwuemeka Atuanya, 20 Charlie Rylands, 21 Jake Garside, 22 Matt Worley, 23 Patrick Tapley.

Tries: Adamson, Arthur

Cons: Maisey 2 

Yellow card: Huw Taylor, Joey Conway, Jack Arthur, Sean French

Referee: Hamish Smales

Gallery