Knights too strong for battling Reds.

Jersey Reds 10-22 Doncaser Knights

Doncaster Knights recorded a fifth successive victory of the season as they grinded past Jersey Reds at Castle Park to remain unbeaten in the Greene King IPA Championship.

The Knights welcomed Jersey Reds to Castle Park for Round Five of the 2021 Greene King IPA Championship despite the tie being classed as an away game and it was the Reds who started the brighter.

Pressure from the kick off and some Knights indiscipline quickly put the Reds in the ascendancy, indeed the first four penalties of the game all went Jersey’s way with fly-half Brendan Cope opening the scoring on Four minutes.

The Knights continued to weather early pressure but a darting run for young scrum half Gus Warr generated some go forward that was continued by Billy McBryde before the scrambling Reds defence game up a penalty which Sam Olver slotted to level the scores.

Parity was not held for long however as quick thinking from Bath Rugby loanee Max Green saw the scrum half take a tap penalty and race 40 metres to the line.

The Knights reaction was quick and solid line out pressure moved the forwards in range. A short range penalty saw a shot at goal turned down with the pack taking a quick tap and John Kelly going very close. The bodies piled up and eventually Matt Challinor, as he has done so often over the years, battered his way over to touch down. Olver’s conversion levelling the scores.

With half time approaching Donny began to find their rhythm. Olver released Connor Edwards, who enjoyed another fine afternoon, on an inside line and the centre charged deep into the Reds 22m. Brendan Owen brought him down, but the ball recycled & Olver launch a huge miss pass across to Spittle to canter over in the corner.

The Reds almost made an immediate response when they won back to back penalties following a midfield scrum. A question about a penalty try was raised when Ben Hunter dropped one ominous looking maul but it was not given and shortly after the half was ended.

The Knights sealed victory in the early stages of the second period. From a solid line out drive the Knights attacked in field and slick hands from McBryde & Spittle saw the ball span to Kyle Evans who had plenty of space and time to cross in the corner. Olver converted and it was 10-22.

In all honestly there wasn’t too much to report from the rest of the second period but the Knights never truly looked like losing. Olver, who has been so reliable with the boot this campaign, was a little wayward and missed the opportunity to extend for the tee.

The coaching staff rang the changes in the final quarter after Robin Hislop was sin binned for a neck roll and the game, which never really flowed, became a little disjointed.

The Reds threatened late on as they went in search of a losing bonus point but the Donny D held firm to secure a fifth successive win.

All eyes now turn to next weekend as the Knights welcome a star-studded Saracens side to Castle Park hoping to pull off the win of the season. Do not miss it!

Jersey XV | 15 Brendan Owen, 14 Tom Williams (Apakuki Ma’afu 60’), 13 Scott Van Breda, 12 Jack Roberts, 11 Darren Atkins, 10 Brendan Cope, 9 Max Green, 1 Dan Richardson (Ollie Dawe 60’), 2 Jack Macfarlane (George Edgson 48’), 3 Adam Nicol (Jack Higgins 71’), 4 Zak Farrance (Rory Bartle 65’), 5 Sean O’Connor (Josh Bainbridge 60’), 6 Macauley Cook, 7 Lewis Wynne (capt), 8 Max Argyle  (Tim Grey 40’)

Replacements | 16 George Edgson, 17 Ollie Dawe, 18 Jack Higgins 19 Rory Bartle, 20 Tim Grey, 21 James Elliott, 22 Josh Bainbridge, 23 Apakuki Ma’afu

Tries; Green 18’

Conv; Cope 18’

Pens; Cope 4’

Knights XV 15 Billy McBryde, 14 Kyle Evans, 13 Charlie Foley, 12 Connor Edwards, 11 Jack Spittle, 10 Sam Olver (James Kane 72’), 9 Gus Warr (James Mitchell 50’), 1 Bomber Hislop © (Conrad Cade 61’), 2 Ben Hunter (Will Holling 63’), 3 Joe Jones (Andy Foster 48’), 4 Matt Challinor, Jerry Sexton (Matt Smith 63’), 6 John Kelly (Conor Joyce 59’), 7 Sam Graham, 8 Guido Volpi (Jack Davies 67’).

Replacements | 16 Will Holling, 17 Conrad Cade, 18 Andy Foster, 19  Matt Smith, 20 Conor Joyce, 21 James Mitchell, 22 James Kane, 23 Jack Davies

Tries; Challinor 27’, Spittle 38’, Evans 48’

Conv;  Olver 27’, 48’

Pens; Olver 15’

Referee:Hamish Smales. Assistants:Simon Park, Gregg Dawson