KNIGHTS BEGIN PRE-SEASON WITH AN IMPRESSIVE VICTORY

Doncaster kick-started pre-season with a successful trip to Wales, as the Knights came away with a 47-7 win over Bridgend Ravens.

Clive Griffiths’ side began the game with purposeful intent that saw them dot down four first half tries against the Welsh Premiership outfit; fly-half Sam Olver converting three to create a 26-0 cushion at the interval.

It took only 15 minutes for the visitors to find their feet with Tyson Lewis putting the first points on the board. The winger helped by debutant Pete Lucock, the centre arrived in the summer from Yorkshire Carnegie, as he produced a great pass for the Knights stalwart to score in the corner.

Donny added to the score line again towards the last quarter of the first half with fellow winger Dougie Flockhart touching down after the ball had come loose just inside the Bridgend half.

Young prospect Sam Jones, who rose through the Academy and Doncaster Phoenix ranks, showed his potential to the coaching staff as the forward made numerous tackles before breaking the home side’s defence and offloading to last season’s top try scorer Tom James, who dotted down with ease under the posts.

10 minutes later, the youngster broke free again and in similar fashion found scrum-half James waiting for the pass to score and after a Olver conversion gave the Knights a 26-0 lead at half-time.

Jones continued to show why he could be in starting side for the opening RFU Championship cup game on the 21^st September, when the flanker added to his good performance with a try of his own from a driving maul. Olver converted well again to hand the Knights a comfortable 33-0 advantage.

Through the second half both sides made several changes as Reiss Cullen made his debut alongside another Academy and Phoenix star Will Holling.

The changes disrupted the Doncaster pressure though and the Welsh side deservedly scored their first try of the evening.

Later on the game, substitute Curtis Wilson scored his first of the game, as the speedy winger dotted down in the corner. This time Charlie Foley converted to make it 40-7 to the Knights.

Wilson again showed his impact on the friendly, as he superbly caught a cross field kick, Foley again converted to make it 47-7 at the full-time whistle.

Match Statistics

Knights starting XV: McColl, Flockhart, Hayes, Lucock, Lewis, Olver, James; Hislop, Hunter, Foster, Challinor, Hicks, Jones, Hills, Pitman.

Replacements: Cullen, Foley, Wilson, Pocklington, Burden, Quigley, Sproston, Beach, Smith, Birch, Eames.

Try Scorers: Lewis, Flockhart, James 2, Jones Wilson 2

Conversions: Olver 4, Foley 2