Knights Unable to Breach Pirates’ Fortress

Doncaster Knights suffered a frustrating loss this afternoon to Cornish Pirates at Mennaye Field, as they head home with a 29-7 loss on the chart.

The first quarter of the match, it could be easily argued, belonged solely to the Knights as the put together perfectly flowing attacking phases, sending the Pirates scrambling in defence.

Twice during this period the hosts were reduced in numbers – at one point to 13 – as both flanker Antonio Kiri Kiri and centre Rory Parata were shown yellow cards for dangerous tackles – on Maliq Holden and Jack Spittle respectively.

The Knights took advantage of this reduced man power as, in the 17th minute, the first points of the match were scored by our travelling squad. Jack Spittle stole the ball and make a fast-paced break, drawing in the final defender before handing off to Alex Dolly on his supporting line. 

With a conversion added from Olver, the Knights were seven points ahead. However, they seemed to lose precision in execution following this score as the remaining points of the half all went to Pirates.

Having secured a penalty advantage – the first of too many – in the Knights 22, the Pirates diligently put the ball through the phases, eventually allowing captain Tom Duncan to cross for the five points, soon topped up by Robson’s conversion.

Less than five minutes later, the Cornish outfit were back scoring as, having drawn in most of their backs to the rolling maul, the hosts crashed over in a pile of bodies – eventually with hooker Tom Channon emerging from the bottom.

All remained square from there until half-time. Pirates must have had one hell of a team talk when they were back in the changing rooms as they looked the better of the two sides in the second 40 – Doncaster unable to add to their points tally. 

Four minutes into the second half, Pirates were adding to the scoreboard. Spotting a scrap of daylight at the feet of the Knights defence on the try line, Channon hit the deck quick-smart to extend his side’s lead with Robson adding the extras.

On the 51st minute, the last try of the game was scored when Pirates tore a hole int the Knights defence, sending Tom Kessell storming through to fly through under the posts. Robson adding the conversion charted the scoreboard at 26-7.

Yet another yellow card was dealt out shortly after when Caleb Montgomery, only on the field a few short minutes, was sent to the sin bin as the Knights look to maul over the Pirates line.

The Knights gave their all as the minutes painstakingly ticked on but each attack was thwarted either by Pirates themselves or by the referee’s whistle. Pirates also never let up on their quest for more points – adding a final three in the last minute of the encounter to seal a 29-7 win, and sent the Knights home with am unwanted loss.

Match Statistics

Pirates XV | 15 AJ Cant; 14 Robin Wedlake, 13 Rory Parata, 12 Shae Tucker, 11 Tommy Wyatt; 10 Arwell Robson, 9 Tom Kessell; 1 Jack Andrew, 2 Tom Channon, 3 Sam Rodman, 4 Josh Caulfield, 5 Danny Cutmore, 6 Matt Bolwell, 7 Antonio Kiri Kiri, 8 Tom Duncan (c).

Replacements | 16 Syd Blackmore, 17 Marlen Walker, 18 Alfie Petch, 19 Lewis Pearson, 20 Caleb Montgomery, 21 Ruaridh Dawson, 22 Harry Bazalgette, 23 Nicolas De Battista.

Tries: Duncan, Channon 2, Kessell

Conv: Robson 3

Pen: Bazalgette

Yellow cards: Antonio Kiri Kiri, Rory Parata, Caleb Montgomery

Knights XV | 15 Billy McBryde; 14 Jack Spittle, 13 Mark Best, 12 Fraser Strachan, 11 Maliq Holden; 10 Sam Olver, 9 Alex Dolly; 1 Conor Davidson, 2 George Edgson, 3 Gaz Denman, 4 John Kelly, 5 Ben Murphy, 6 Jack Davies, 7 Sam Graham (c), 8 Thom Smith.

Replacements | 16 George Roberts, 17 Ben Carlile, 18 AndrewFoster, 19 Danny Drake, 20 Josh Peters, 21 Sam Hudson, 22 Lloyd Wheeldon, 23 Harry Davey.

Tries: Dolly

Conv: Olver

Yellow card: Alex Dolly

Referee: Adam Leal