Post by Jamie Crawford on Nov 1, 2021 12:18:48 GMT
Doncaster Knights v Richmond Rugby preview
sponsored by Twenty Four IT Services (www.twentyfourit.co.uk)
Round seven, 2.30pm Castle Park
Richmond Rugby club was formed in 1861 making it the second oldest club in England. They have had had a turbulent history; they went into administration in 1999 following promotion to the Premiership for the 1997/98 season. They recovered and were reintroduced at level Nine in 2000/01. They gained promotions to reach Level Two, the Championship but after three seasons they were relegated to National One. Richmond augmented their efforts in the 2019–20 season to earn promotion back to the Championship. Last season the Knights came home from Richmond’s Athletic Ground (RAG) 12-40 winners. This season Richmond have re-learnt what standard is required to play in the Championship. They have already won half of their games played after only winning one last season.
Doncaster rugby club (before they were the professional Knights) played Richmond in a National Cup match just before Richmond were promoted to the Premiership. The passionate Donny lads were 10-5 down at half time after some howling wind and rain, Ben Clarke asked the referee to call it off but the Donny players jeered and got rapturous applause from their supporters as they left the pitch. Richmond returned for the second half in clean, dry shirts as opposed to Doncaster’s wet and muddy ones. Doncaster were then taught a lesson as the local lads faced a team that fielded six Internationals, such as Ben Clark (England and British & Irish Lions), Adrian Davis (Wales), Augustin Pichot (Argentina), Barry Williams (Wales and Lions), Stephen Larkam (Australia). Fortunately, Scott (Wales & Lions) and Craig Quinell (Wales) were thankfully being rested for this fixture. (Thanks ex-player Mark Longworth for the recall).
Last Saturday Richmond (then 2nd, played 5) welcomed Jersey Reds (then 5th, played 4) to their RAG whilst the Knights (then 10th, played 4) went tothe ALPAS Arena to play Hartpury University Dillingham Park to Play Ampthill (then 3rd, played 5). Richmond lost 20-26 and the Knights gained their first away win of the season, coming home 18-20 winners. It looked like it was going to be another away defeat for the Knights after our error count in the first half gave Ampthill an 18-3 lead. Thankfully a better second half, with a very strong 15 minute finish recorded a further two tries, culminating with an 80 metre try by winger Jack Spittle in the last minute.
Alas Richmond’s fight-back against Jersey’s 0-19 lead at half time only managed to gain them a losing bonus point by ending within seven points of the winners.
The results leave Richmond fifth after playing six and both winning and losing three with the Knights seventh after playing a game less, winning three and losing two. Richmond have won five bonus points over their six games played compared to the Knights’ one. This leaves them four league points above the Knights even with the same number of wins.
Richmond are the seventh highest points-scorers away so far this season, but the Knights have conceded the fewest points at home. Defence wins games is a Knights maxim, hopefully it proves correct on Saturday.
Richmond No. 8 Mark Bright is one of five players to be equal top try-scorers in the Championship. Full Back William Homer has notched up four tries over six games to place him equal-tenth on the top try-scorer list.
Full Back James Cane is the Championship’s second top points-scorer and only three points from top, so the Knights must keep the penalty count to a minimum. Two of Richmond’s Full Backs are high-scoring either with the hand or the boot so the Knights must also be wary of these.
42 year old Bright spent eight seasons at London Scottish, was their most capped player and became a talisman, Richmond ground share with London Scottish and so the offer was easy to make, Bright’s frustration with not playing competitive rugby led to the move. Obviously Bright is now a crowd and player favourite at Richmond. The Knights must be very wary of this Back Row player with his vast experience, identified leadership and scoring ability. Bright scored a hat-trick against Nottingham.
Other games happening this weekend are:
• London Scottish (11th, played 6) v Cornish Pirates (2nd, played 5)
• Jersey Reds (3rd, played 5) v Hartpury RFC (6th, played 6)
• Bedford Blues (4th, played 5) v Ealing Trailfinders (1st, played 5)
• Coventry (10th, played 6) v Nottingham (9th, played 5)
• Ampthill BYE
Doncaster Knights are seventh, there’s only the Scottish exiles that can’t catch us and only Trailfinders and the Pirates that we can’t overtake in one game (if Jersey Reds lose without scoring a league point).
A Knights’ bonus point win could see us rise to third if Hartpury beat Jersey and Jersey don’t score a league point. A loss for the Knights could see us drop to tenth.
COYK
DONNY, DONNY, DONNY…
sponsored by Twenty Four IT Services (www.twentyfourit.co.uk)
Round seven, 2.30pm Castle Park
Richmond Rugby club was formed in 1861 making it the second oldest club in England. They have had had a turbulent history; they went into administration in 1999 following promotion to the Premiership for the 1997/98 season. They recovered and were reintroduced at level Nine in 2000/01. They gained promotions to reach Level Two, the Championship but after three seasons they were relegated to National One. Richmond augmented their efforts in the 2019–20 season to earn promotion back to the Championship. Last season the Knights came home from Richmond’s Athletic Ground (RAG) 12-40 winners. This season Richmond have re-learnt what standard is required to play in the Championship. They have already won half of their games played after only winning one last season.
Doncaster rugby club (before they were the professional Knights) played Richmond in a National Cup match just before Richmond were promoted to the Premiership. The passionate Donny lads were 10-5 down at half time after some howling wind and rain, Ben Clarke asked the referee to call it off but the Donny players jeered and got rapturous applause from their supporters as they left the pitch. Richmond returned for the second half in clean, dry shirts as opposed to Doncaster’s wet and muddy ones. Doncaster were then taught a lesson as the local lads faced a team that fielded six Internationals, such as Ben Clark (England and British & Irish Lions), Adrian Davis (Wales), Augustin Pichot (Argentina), Barry Williams (Wales and Lions), Stephen Larkam (Australia). Fortunately, Scott (Wales & Lions) and Craig Quinell (Wales) were thankfully being rested for this fixture. (Thanks ex-player Mark Longworth for the recall).
Last Saturday Richmond (then 2nd, played 5) welcomed Jersey Reds (then 5th, played 4) to their RAG whilst the Knights (then 10th, played 4) went to
Alas Richmond’s fight-back against Jersey’s 0-19 lead at half time only managed to gain them a losing bonus point by ending within seven points of the winners.
The results leave Richmond fifth after playing six and both winning and losing three with the Knights seventh after playing a game less, winning three and losing two. Richmond have won five bonus points over their six games played compared to the Knights’ one. This leaves them four league points above the Knights even with the same number of wins.
Richmond are the seventh highest points-scorers away so far this season, but the Knights have conceded the fewest points at home. Defence wins games is a Knights maxim, hopefully it proves correct on Saturday.
Richmond No. 8 Mark Bright is one of five players to be equal top try-scorers in the Championship. Full Back William Homer has notched up four tries over six games to place him equal-tenth on the top try-scorer list.
Full Back James Cane is the Championship’s second top points-scorer and only three points from top, so the Knights must keep the penalty count to a minimum. Two of Richmond’s Full Backs are high-scoring either with the hand or the boot so the Knights must also be wary of these.
42 year old Bright spent eight seasons at London Scottish, was their most capped player and became a talisman, Richmond ground share with London Scottish and so the offer was easy to make, Bright’s frustration with not playing competitive rugby led to the move. Obviously Bright is now a crowd and player favourite at Richmond. The Knights must be very wary of this Back Row player with his vast experience, identified leadership and scoring ability. Bright scored a hat-trick against Nottingham.
Other games happening this weekend are:
• London Scottish (11th, played 6) v Cornish Pirates (2nd, played 5)
• Jersey Reds (3rd, played 5) v Hartpury RFC (6th, played 6)
• Bedford Blues (4th, played 5) v Ealing Trailfinders (1st, played 5)
• Coventry (10th, played 6) v Nottingham (9th, played 5)
• Ampthill BYE
Doncaster Knights are seventh, there’s only the Scottish exiles that can’t catch us and only Trailfinders and the Pirates that we can’t overtake in one game (if Jersey Reds lose without scoring a league point).
A Knights’ bonus point win could see us rise to third if Hartpury beat Jersey and Jersey don’t score a league point. A loss for the Knights could see us drop to tenth.
COYK
DONNY, DONNY, DONNY…
