Tynedale 14 Doncaster Knights 41

Doncaster Knights travelled to Northumberland based Tynedale RUFC on Saturday for their final pre-season game ahead of the 2014-2015 Championship campaign.

The Knights last visit to Corbridge last season had been far from easy. The South Yorkshire men earned a win by one point right at the death in horrendous weather conditions. This time the newly promoted Doncaster men were treated to considerably better weather conditions and left with a 41-14 win.

Doncaster made their mark early on, a scrum just outside the 22 proved the perfect opportunity to test out a training ground move. Paul Roberts shipped the ball to outside centre Mat Clark who had hit a superb line, the centre had the pace to sprint away and score the first try on 3 minutes. Dougie Flockhart was on target with the conversion 0-7.

Tynedale began to work themselves into the game, powerful Number 8 Scott Powell set the tone with a number of robust runs but he was contained by the hard working Knights back row. The next try came on the 13 minute mark, the Knights pack earned a vital turnover at the scrum and the ball was immediately moved wide. Tyson Lewis still had a defender to beat but with a strong fend he was over in the corner for the second try of the match.

Doncaster refused to let up, from the restart Number 8 Alex Shaw burst through the defensive line and found Tyson out wide, he once again showed his fine finishing skills with another devastating hand off to dot down in the corner, 0-19 with 14 minutes played.

The home side were the next on the score sheet, a period of sustained pressure gave the Tyne men a lineout inside the Knights 22. Their big pack drove at the line and could not be halted centre Ben Frankland was the man with the ball over the line 7-19.

Both sides then enjoyed spells of attacking when on 32 minutes the Knights broke through, scrum half Bruno Bravo made a scything break before finding blindside flanker Latu Makaafi in support. The back row forward raced under the sticks. George Tressider who had come on as a replacement for Paul Roberts slotted the conversion 7-26.

Into the second half and it was the hosts who came out on the attack, one telling charge broke the defensive line but the Knights pack battled at the breakdown to turn the ball over. Mat Clark was the quickest to react to the spilled ball and set off on half way for a sprint to the line. The outside centre turned on the after burners and sprinted away to score 7-31 on 43 minutes.

The Corbridge men were the next to score, in a mirror image of their first try a driving maul 5 metres out their big pack bulldozed over the line 14-31.

Try number six for the Knights came on the 63 minute mark, a break by Bevon Armitage had the Tynedale defence back pedalling and Bravo and Tressider were on hand to continue the move, the latter crossing for a well taken try 14-36.

There was still time for a hat-rick for last seasons leading try scorer Tyson Lewis, Will Foden earned a turnover on half way and Clark set off towards the line. Tyson called for the ball out wide and showed great control to stretch out and dot the ball down over the whitewash.

Final score Tynedale 14 Doncaster Knights 41.

Next week is the much anticipated start of the 2014-2015 Championship, the Knights are on home soil against Plymouth Albion and will be looking to get their campaign off to the very best of starts. Kick off is 2:30pm.

Match Statistics

Tynedale XV

1.Sam White 2.David Nelson 3.Mark Irving 4.Andy Buist 5.Graeme Dunne 6.Matthew Charters 7.Dan Temm 8.Scott Powell 9.Matthew Outson 10.Gavin Beasley 11.Sepp Visser 12.Ben Frankland 13.Jack Harrison 14.Will Miller 15.Ollie Walker

Replacements:

Joe Anderson, Alex Wesgarth, Dan Lowden, Nick Cairns, Peter Weightman, Dan Taylor

Tries:

Ben Frankland 22′ 56′

Conversions:

Gavin Beasley 22′ 56′

Doncaster Knights XV

1.Richard List 2.Ben Hunter 3.Ross Davies 4.Tyler Hotson 5.Jon Phelan 6.Latu Makaafi 7.Michael Hills 8.Alex Shaw 9.Bruno Bravo 10.Paul Roberts 11.Tyson Lewis 12.Bevon Armitage 13.Mat Clark 14.Dougie Flockhart 15. Paul Jarvis

Replacements: (all used) Tom Davies, Jack Bergmanus, Glen Kenworthy, Will Owen, George Tressider, Will Foden, Jack Maplesden, Andrew Bulamakau, Rhys Williams.

Tries:

Mat Clark 3’ 43’, Tyson Lewis 13’ 14’ 71, Latu Makaafi 33’, George Tressider 63’

Conversions:

Dougie Flockhart 3’ 14’, George Tressider 33’