Knights Season Ends with Loss to Nil Against Ealing in Championship Cup Semi-Final
6th May 2023
Doncaster Knights’ 2022/23 season came to an end this afternoon with a 32-0 loss to Ealing Trailfinders in London in the Semi-Final of the Championship Cup.
Ealing first of the day came within 7 minutes. Chasing a ball through the line in the Knights 22, Reuben Bird-Tulloch nudged the ball a second time to avoid George Simpson and collected over the line to score. Luke Daniels then converted.
They added a penalty on 26 minutes after the Knights were called for hinging at the scrum and Daniels went for the posts.
A minute shy of half an hour, Ealing second came when they collected a short chip kick over the line meant for the Knights. Recycling quickly, Jonah Holmes found a gap to run in the score underneath the posts with Daniels then converting.
The third came four minutes later. Playing on from a potential knock-on, the hosts recycled amongst the Knights confusion – breaking into the 22 before finding space for Bird-Tulloch to cross for his second of the day. Daniels then converted the score.
A penalty with 2 minutes until half time after the Knights were penalised for off-side allowed Daniels to secure a 27-0 half-time lead.
Yellow cards were dealt out throughout the second half – the first coming on 45 minutes when Ealing’ Ollie Newman was sent from the field for a high tackle.
The next major sway in play came just after the hour as Conor Davidson took blame for repeated pack infringements at the scrum as he was sent to the sin bin. Jake Armstrong followed a few minutes later for an identical issue.
The last points of the day however came on 71 minutes. The hosts came around the corner of the scrum, stealing the Donny ball. Holmes received a pass on the wing and went over the whitewash in the corner in a crush of Knights tacklers but the ref signalled the score.
Despite an extremely dogged fight, showing some real guts in the second half, it wasn’t to be for the Doncaster men as their season ends on defeat in knockout rugby in the capital.
Ealing Trailfinders XV | 15 Cian Kelleher; 14 Luke Daniels, 13 Max Bodily, 12 Reuben Bird-Tulloch, 11 Jonah Holmes; 10 Dan Lancaster, 9 Craig Hampson; 1 James Gibbons, 2 Shaun Malton, 3 Lewis Thiede, 4 Bobby De Wee, 5 David O’Connor, 6 Adam Korczyk, 7 Ollie Newman, 8 Simon Uzokwe.
Replacements | 16 Alun Walker, 17 Will Davis, 18 George Davis, 19 Barney Maddison, 20 Simon Linsell, 21 Jordan Burns, 22 Steven Shingler, 23 Jack Digby.
Pens: Daniels 2
Tries: Bird-Tulloch 2, Holmes 2
Cons: Daniels 3
Yellow card: Ollie Newman
Starting XV | 15 Billy McBryde; 14 George Simpson, 13 Joe Margetts, 12 Connor Edwards, 11 Maliq Holden; 10 Sam Olver, 9 Alex Dolly; 1 Conor Davidson, 2 George Roberts, 3 Andrew Foster, 4 Ehize Ehizode, 5 Ben Murphy, 6 Rhys Tait, 7 Thom Smith, 8 John Kelly.
Replacements | 16 Will Holling, 17 Jake Pope, 18 Jake Armstrong, 19 Sam Daly, 20 Jared Cardew, 21 Will Yarnell, 22 Robbie Smith, 23 Harry Davey.
Yellow card: Conor Davidson, Jake Armstrong.
Referee: Harry Walbaum
