Knights 64 v 0 Darlington Mowden Park

The Knights recorded a resounding win in their final pre-season test of the summer against a committed Darlington Mowden Park outfit at Castle Park.

In drizzly conditions the Knights ran in a total of ten tries against the National One outfit and prevented Park from registering a score all afternoon.

The Knights made an electric start to the tie and scored the game’s opening try with less than a minute on the clock. David Nolan took a nice catch from the kick off and when play was brought in field Paul Jarvis raced through a gap to open up space for Tyson Lewis on the left wing. Dougie Flockhart converted and the Knights were up and running.

Paul Jarvis enjoyed an impressive opening to the tie and was at the forefront of the Knights attack again not long after. A deep Donny lineout was brought in field before play was switch back to the blindside and Jarvis hit the line at pace to cross for the second score.

Before Mowden had chance to find their feet in the game the Knights struck with a third. Ed Falkingham took a smart catch at the line out which was continued with a nice run from Alex Shaw. On the front foot, the Knights backs always looked dangerous and, with space out wide, possession was moved for Tyson to register his second with a trademark show of pace.

The visitors created a half chance when Callum Mackenzie collected an intercept deep in his own half but the Knights defence scrambled well to recover. A fourth try came before the interval as the Knights pack managed to get a post line out rumble over the line, lock forward Glen Young emerged with the ball and Flockhart’s conversion made it 26-0.

The coaching staff made a handful of changes at the half but it did little to effect the Knights momentum as they added a further two tries shortly after the restart. Sam Edgerley struck first, showing good awareness to dart over at the back of another powerful driving line out before Jarvis went over again; finishing a nice piece of post scrum back play.

The intensity dropped slightly as the second half progressed and both sides were guilty of spurning promising opportunities but overall the Knights defence always looked firm.

The final quarter saw the Knights add gloss to the score line with four more tries in the closing stages. Simon Humberstone finished a nice breakaway that featured impressive carries from Mat Clark, Lloyd Hayes and Alesana Tuilagi. Clark was on the attack again shortly after, powerfully finishing a good break by James Fitzpatrick.

Sam Edgerley got his second with an impressive display of pace from his own half after Makaafi stole a Mowden line out and Sean Scanlon got the final try of the day, linking up nicely with Lloyd Hayes on way to the line.

It was encouraging display for the home faithful ahead what will be very challenging Championship opener at the Madejski Stadium next Saturday.

Match Statistics

Knights XV

15) Paul Jarvis, 14) Dougie Flockhart, 13) Lloyd Hayes, Blank) Alesana Tuilagi, 11) Tyson Lewis, 10) Dec Cusack, 9) Michael Heaney (C) , 1) Robin Hislop, 2) Harry Allen, 3) WillGriff John, 4) Glen Young , 5) David Nolan, 6) Ed Falkingham, 7) Will Owen, 8) Alex Shaw

Replacements; 16) Richard List, 17) Joe Sproston, 18) Dave Nelson, 18) Jarad Williams, 19) Matt Challinor, Blank) Latu Makaafi, 20) Beau Robinson, 22) Sam Edgerley, Blank) Simon Humberstone , Blank) James Fitzpatrick, 21) Mat Clark, 15) Sean Scanlon (all used).

Tries; Lewis 1’ & 22’, Paul Jarvis 16’, 47’ Young 36’, Edgerley 42’ & 72’, Humberstone 69’, Clark 78’, Scanlon 80’

Conv; Flockhart 1’, 16’, 36’ Cusack 42’ 47’, Humberstone 78’ 80’

Pens;