Knights Enjoy Running in Ten Tries Against Scottish in Champ Cup

Doncaster Knights dusted themselves off from defeat at Coventry last week to enjoy running in 10 tries against London Scottish in front of a jubilant Castle Park crowd this afternoon.

The tone of the match was set in the third minute when the Knights opened the day’s scoring. A confident charge from home debutant Adam Hopkinson started the attacking play rolling in the 22 before short recycles on the Scottish line allowed Ehize Ehizode to crash over. Alex Dolly then successfully converted his first of the day.

Exactly another three minutes later, the Kngihts had their second. Lovely phase of play off the line produced it. Connor Edwards’ slight of hand found Sam Olver perfectly who in turn released Maliq Holden on the wing. He broke from the halfway line to the opposition 22 before putting a long pass inside to Dolly to finish the score. The scrum half then converted his own try.

The day’s visitors responded through Brian Tuilagi as the back rower spotted a gap at the feet of the defensive line right on the whitewash and made the most of it for his side’s first points. The conversion was then secured by Cameron Scott.

The Knights had a third inside the first quarter. Quick work in the 22 saw them gather the momentum. Jack Spittle, on return from injury, took the pass in space and cantered through to secure a score which he had began from an original break. Dolly once more topped up the score with the conversion.

And on just 23 minutes played, the Donny men had their bonus point secure. With a penalty awarded at the scrum, Olver made out as if he were going for the corner before spinning around to launch a kick right across the field to a waiting Spittle on the wing. He had competition, but the Donny man broke it to run in the score mid-tackle.

The Knights were reduced to just 13 men as the clock ticked down on the first half. Holden was the first man sent to the bin for a deliberate knock-on before Bobby Bratton followed just a minute later for an infringement at the maul.

Scottish copped the same punishment shortly following the break as Billy Wara was sent from the field after some disagreement over a penalty.

The Knights capitalised on the man-down Scottish just a minute later as another game, another maul try for the Knights pack. George Edgson – on co-captaincy duty on his return from injury – emerged from the rubble with the ball in hand. Dolly then slotted the conversion.

Replacment Robbie Smith made a noticeable impact on the second half as on 51 minutes played, he broke from his 22 to the edge of the opposition 22 which he flicked the ball outside to Dolly. The scrum half couldn’t out-run his man, so pumped the breaks to avoid the tackle and find an option for the breakdown. Nice passes across the 22 allowed Olver to nab the ball which he promptly chipped to the wing for Holden who happily ran in the try. With Dolly’s conversion, the Knights hit the 40-point mark.

Scottish scored their last points of the day shortly after. Finding themselves deep in Donny territory, Cam King slipped a couple of tackles to crash over out wide for the London men.

Just short of the hour mark, Edgson had his second try of the day as the hooker capped off an impressive performance upon his return to the starting side. Executing a strong driving maul from the set-piece, the hooker tore off the back of the tail to soar over for the solo score.

A fantastic break from Alec Lloyd Seed on the far touchline was the catalyst for the Knights next score. At pace, the replacement back fed Holden to power home for the Knights. It looked as though the winger was brought down short by a tap-tackle but he spun his upper body around to dot the ball down over his head. With McBryde’s conversion, the Knights broke past 50-points.

71 minutes saw some fantastic work from the backs back-up the forwards’ scrummaging work. Will Yarnell’s long pass to Holden on the wing released the former. Edwards ran the supporting line and took the pass his winger gave at a jink-step to finish under the posts. McBryde’s simple conversion then added the extras.

Last word of the day on the scoreboard went to Yarnell, however. With five minutes left, he executed what we presume all scrum halves hope for – a solo try from a pick and go from the bottom of a ruck. With McBryde’s conversion tallied on top, the Knights ended the day with 66 points to their name.

A marked improvement from more recent performances, the Knights squad and coaches will surely be looking to carry momentum and positive aspects of play through from this game into next weekend’s trip to face Bedford Blues in Round 6 of the Championship Cup.

Match Statistics

Starting XV | 15 Billy McBryde; 14 Jack Spittle, 13 Joe Margetts, 12 Connor Edwards, 11 Maliq Holden; 10 Sam Olver, 9 Alex Dolly; 1 Jake Pope, 2 George Edgson, 3 Bobby Bratton, 4 Ehize Ehizode, 5 Adam Hopkinson, 6 Sam Daly, 7 Martin SIgren, 8 Sam Hudson.

Replacements | 16 Will Holling, 17 James Wayland, 18 Karl Garside, 19 John Kelly, 20 Jared Cardew, 21 Will Yarnell, 22 Alec Lloyd-Seed, 23 Robbie Smith.

Tries: Ehizode, Dolly, Spittle 2, Edgson 2, Holden 2, Edwards, Yarnell

Cons: Dolly 5, McBryde 3

Yellow card: Maliq Holden, Bobby Bratton

Scottish XV | 15 Cameron Anderson; 14 Billy Wara, 13 Will Simonds, 12 Robbie McCallum, 11 Sam Smith; 10 Cameron Scott, 9 Ed Hoadley; 1 Will Hobson, 2 Harri Morris, 3 Joe Rees, 4 Angus Southon, 5 Matt Wilkinson, 6 Brian Tuilagi, 7 Dan Cuthbert, 8 Cam King.

Replacements | 16 Nathan Jibulu, 17 Oran Murphy, 18 Rhys Litterick, 19 Bailey Ransom, 20 Lawrence Mason, 21 Lewis Gjaltema, 22 Nathan Chamberlain, 23 William Panday.

Tries: Tuilagi, King

Cons: Scott

Yellow card: Billy Wara

Referee: Mike Hudson

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