21Hartpury RFC
48Doncaster Knights
The Knights produced a sensational attacking display that rewarded the side with five points after scoring six tries.
The first half started in a positive fashion for Doncaster, as the home side were put on the back foot for much of the early encounters. Hartpury conceded a number of penalties that allowed the visitors to build pressure and the Knights were soon rewarded.
A great offload from Colin Quigley, allowed Oliver Stedman to stretch away inside the 22 and dot down for his fifth try since joining in late November. Dougie Flockhart converted to give the Knights a deserved lead after a quarter of an hour.
The home side began to work their way back into the game and after a great break Flockhart was judged to have tackled a player off the ball resulting in a yellow card for the winger. Eventually, Hartpury got level from a driving maul and successful conversion.
The Gloucestershire based side then began to keep their momentum up, but Doncaster held firm and extended their lead after some superb passing. Firstly an Olver dummy, allowed Lewis space to drive into the Hartpury half, he found Ben Hunter to his left. The hooker stretched away down the wing, before passing to James to burst away and easily score.
The second half was an attacking masterclass from Doncaster. Nick Civetta dotted down from a pick and go after some great quick feet from Olver. Flockhart converted to make the score line 7-21.
Hartpury got themselves back into the game though with a try from a driving maul and conversion. However, the Knights extended their lead once again. Stedman scored his second of the afternoon after finding a gap outside the 22 and dotting down. Flockhart scored that conversion as well as a penalty moments later.
On 56 minutes, James also scored his second try of the match from a quick Joe Sproston offload that found Will Owen, he brushed off a couple of tackles before finding the scrum-half in support, who dotted down for his seventh of the season.
10 minutes later, Mike Mayhew scored his first try for the club. Captain Tom Calladine drove to within inches of the Hartpury try line, before being tackled. Fortunately, the hooker was on hand to pick and go and make the score 14-45 after a Flockhart conversion.
Hartpury replied with a penalty try, only for Flockhart to continue his fine kicking form and score another penalty and hand the Knights a 21-48 victory that they firmly deserved.
Match Statistics
Starting XV: 15. Cowell 14. Flockhart 13. Creed 12. Owen 11. Lewis 10. Olver 9. James(61’Seniloli) 1. Hislop(61’Williams) 2. Hunter(56’Mayhew) 3. Quigley(45’Sproston) 4. Tyrell 5. Civetta 6. Ryan(54’Jones) 7. Calladine 8. Stedman(66’Lomidze)
Replacements: 16. Mayhew 17. Williams 18. Sproston 19. Lomidze 20. Ryan 21. Seniloli 22. Foley
Tries: Stedman 2, James 2, Civetta, Mayhew Conversions: Flockhart 6 Penalties: Flockhart 2