Post by Jamie Crawford on Feb 12, 2019 10:48:36 GMT
Nottingham rugby preview
sponsored by Porsche Centre Sheffield (www.porschesheffield.co.uk)
Round 15, Saturday 16th Feb, 2019 - 2:30pm at Caste Park, home of Doncaster Knights (www.drfc.co.uk)
Following the exciting Women’s Six Nations match England v France, the Knights want to emulate the English Red Rose’s performance when they play sixth-placed Nottingham rugby club. The Knights have dropped to ninth after losing courageously to second-placed Ealing Trailfinders last Saturday. Although three places above us, Nottingham are just three points above, so we would leapfrog them if we won. Looking at the fixtures for the other two teams within overtaking distance in one game (at the end); I believe that we have a very good chance of rising to sixth if we beat Nottingham. We would then be in the top half of the table and can work our way up.
Last Saturday Nottingham lost 15 – 33 to Carnegie and will be seeking a return to winning ways. The fact that they have the chance to beat another side from Yorkshire would just add a sugar frosting to their victory. They beat us 20-15 last September in the reverse fixture but that was a game that the Knights and their supporters would rather forget. We won the try-count 1-2 but we gave away 15 points in penalty kicks. We coulda, shoulda beaten the Green & Whites at the Bay; surely we wanna, gunna beat them at Castle Park on Saturday if we keep our discipline. Knights’ discipline has definitely improved since then, so Nottingham won’t receive another gimme.
Nottingham have scored 342 points (24.4/game) and conceded 376 (26.9/game). The Knights have scored 373 points (26.6/game) and conceded 353 (25.2/game). We have both won six but we’ve lost seven games to Nottingham’s draw (v Coventry) and six defeats. Plus Nottingham have scored eight bonus points to our seven. Six of these bonus points are try bonus points yet Nottingham have scored a few tries fewer than the Knights! It’s all about when you score them!
To our chagrin, we already know that Fly Half Shane O’Leary is accurate with the boot. O’Leary is easily the highest points-scorer in the Championship and has an away kicking strike rate of 80%, so kickable penalties will be punished. Discipline, discipline, discipline Knights; oh and please score a few tries without conceding any.
Other games whose result could affect our league position are:
Coventry (7th, +3) must travel to Reading to play league-leaders London Irish
London Scottish (8th, +1) welcome Bedford Blues (4th) to their Athletic Ground
It’s a nice feeling to only have to look up to teams that we could overtake if we win rather than down to teams that could overtake us if we lose.
COYK
DONNY, DONNY, DONNY…
