Post by Jamie Crawford on Nov 15, 2021 11:08:52 GMT
Hartpury University RFC v Doncaster Knights preview.
sponsored by Twenty Four IT Services (www.twentyfourit.co.uk)
Round eight, 1.30pm Saturday 20th November. ALPAS Arena, Hartpury
(So that supporters can also watch England play South Africa, KO 3.15pm)
Hartpury University RFC
Hartpury were formed in 2004 and offer places in their team to professional rugby players as well as their home-grown talented students. Many Hartpury graduates have gained international honours in men’s and women’s rugby. These graduates trained to be professional athletes alongside their studies. They mix youth with experience and Hartpury has links with Aviva Premiership side Gloucester Rugby, whose training base is located adjacent to the first-team pitch at Hartpury. The close relationship between the two has seen several dual-registered players; all of whom are current or recently departed Hartpury students. This dual registration benefits both teams as Gloucester get to provide valuable game time to players coming back from injury for example and Hartpury gain the ability and experience of Premiership standard players in their team.
As a visitor it is a lovely rural setting with usually a small but very friendly crowd. It has a level, wide and fast pitch for the Knights’ backs to demonstrate their talent. The Knights of the Roundy Tables got an enthusiastic reception when they visited in their armour.
Recent head to head performances
Last season the Knights charged home from the ALPAS Arena 21-32 winners. It was similar the season before, winning 44-22 at Castle Park in September then 8-20 away in October 2019. However, the Knights lost 37-24 in an away Championship Cup match in December 2019. That was when the sides last met; the 22-5 half-time score was too significant to overcome, despite the Knights scoring three tries in the second half. Both teams won a try bonus point after scoring four or more tries but that was all the Knights took from the game. All was not lost as they made it through to the knockout rounds despite this defeat.
Last time out…
…Doncaster Knights beat Richmond 37-5 in a great bonus point win, furthering fortifying their Fortress Castle Park reputation. It was recorded as a significant victory that marked a major improvement in performance. yet Bodes thought that points were left on the pitch. The next home game will severely test this reputation when the Knights welcome Championship leaders and favourites for promotion Ealing Trailfinders.
…Hartpury lost 32-17 against the early league leaders Jersey Reds. The Reds’ efficient and effective lineout drive led to three of their five tries plus Hartpury’s penalty count was too high.
These results raise the Knights to fourth in the table with the four teams left to have a BYE weekend all being below them, so there’s no game-in-hand advantage to be had. Hartpury take over the Knights’ seventh position. Both sides have played six games with the Knights recording four wins and two losses. Hartpury have won three and lost four games played.
Hartpury danger men
Centre/fly half James Williams is dangerous with his boot; Williams is the fourth highest points-scorer in the Championship. Flanker Harry Short and hooker William Crane were the Championship’s equal second highest try-scorers before the last game played. Centre Robbie Smith and full back George Simpson had scored just one try less than Short and Crane. Yet again the Knights must not give away kickable penalties and Hartpury have many options to score tries.
The team were the equal-second highest try-scorers in the Championship with Bedford Blues. Hartpury had scored over 60% more tries than Doncaster Knights. Nearly three quarters (71%) of their tries were scored in the middle forty of the game; most likely after they have got into their stride any before any signs of fatigue set in. Tries had been scored equally between forwards and backs with the front row unusually scoring the majority (a third) of their tries, so the Knights must be wary of push over tries from set pieces. Either by the front row barrelling over or by flanker Short or hooker Crane peeling off the melee to score.
Team strengths and weaknesses
Fortunately for the Knights Hartpury had conceded 65% more tries than the Knights had. Unfortunately for the Knights is that only 40% of their conceded tries had been at home, where they are inevitably stronger. Hartpury had leaked the third highest number of tries scored in the Championship scored by forwards. They were one of four teams to have conceded a brace of penalty tries. Over half of their conceded tries had been scored by forwards, particularly the front and back rows, so the Knights want to look at scoring in a similar way that they must be wary of conceding - off the set piece. Only four teams in the Championship had leaked more tries to wingers, so the Knights should ship the ball out wide as often as possible.
Inter-team linkages
Ex-Knight utility back Charlie Foley joined Hartpury pre-season to join his brother winger Ben. Additionally ex-Knight player/manager Derek Eves’ son Luke Eves plays centre for Hartpury after signing from Premiership outfit Bristol Bears.
The rest of the Championship
Nottingham (10th, played 6 games) host London Scottish (bottom, played 7 games) on Friday 19th November.
Cornish Pirates (2nd, played 6 games) welcome Bedford Blues (5th, played 6 games)
Ealing Trailfinders (top, played 6 games) play Jersey Reds (3rd, played 6 games)
Richmond (6th, played 7 games) v Ampthill (9th, played 6 games) on Saturday 20th November.
Coventry (8th) BYE.
We all know the division is very tight with just eight points separating fourth from tenth.
A Knight defeat could see the Knights drop to eighth, a bonus point win would be needed for the Knights to get to third if Jersey Reds don’t score a league point at Ealing Trailfinders.
COYK
DONNY, DONNY, DONNY…
sponsored by Twenty Four IT Services (www.twentyfourit.co.uk)
Round eight, 1.30pm Saturday 20th November. ALPAS Arena, Hartpury
(So that supporters can also watch England play South Africa, KO 3.15pm)
Hartpury University RFC
Hartpury were formed in 2004 and offer places in their team to professional rugby players as well as their home-grown talented students. Many Hartpury graduates have gained international honours in men’s and women’s rugby. These graduates trained to be professional athletes alongside their studies. They mix youth with experience and Hartpury has links with Aviva Premiership side Gloucester Rugby, whose training base is located adjacent to the first-team pitch at Hartpury. The close relationship between the two has seen several dual-registered players; all of whom are current or recently departed Hartpury students. This dual registration benefits both teams as Gloucester get to provide valuable game time to players coming back from injury for example and Hartpury gain the ability and experience of Premiership standard players in their team.
As a visitor it is a lovely rural setting with usually a small but very friendly crowd. It has a level, wide and fast pitch for the Knights’ backs to demonstrate their talent. The Knights of the Roundy Tables got an enthusiastic reception when they visited in their armour.
Recent head to head performances
Last season the Knights charged home from the ALPAS Arena 21-32 winners. It was similar the season before, winning 44-22 at Castle Park in September then 8-20 away in October 2019. However, the Knights lost 37-24 in an away Championship Cup match in December 2019. That was when the sides last met; the 22-5 half-time score was too significant to overcome, despite the Knights scoring three tries in the second half. Both teams won a try bonus point after scoring four or more tries but that was all the Knights took from the game. All was not lost as they made it through to the knockout rounds despite this defeat.
Last time out…
…Doncaster Knights beat Richmond 37-5 in a great bonus point win, furthering fortifying their Fortress Castle Park reputation. It was recorded as a significant victory that marked a major improvement in performance. yet Bodes thought that points were left on the pitch. The next home game will severely test this reputation when the Knights welcome Championship leaders and favourites for promotion Ealing Trailfinders.
…Hartpury lost 32-17 against the early league leaders Jersey Reds. The Reds’ efficient and effective lineout drive led to three of their five tries plus Hartpury’s penalty count was too high.
These results raise the Knights to fourth in the table with the four teams left to have a BYE weekend all being below them, so there’s no game-in-hand advantage to be had. Hartpury take over the Knights’ seventh position. Both sides have played six games with the Knights recording four wins and two losses. Hartpury have won three and lost four games played.
Hartpury danger men
Centre/fly half James Williams is dangerous with his boot; Williams is the fourth highest points-scorer in the Championship. Flanker Harry Short and hooker William Crane were the Championship’s equal second highest try-scorers before the last game played. Centre Robbie Smith and full back George Simpson had scored just one try less than Short and Crane. Yet again the Knights must not give away kickable penalties and Hartpury have many options to score tries.
The team were the equal-second highest try-scorers in the Championship with Bedford Blues. Hartpury had scored over 60% more tries than Doncaster Knights. Nearly three quarters (71%) of their tries were scored in the middle forty of the game; most likely after they have got into their stride any before any signs of fatigue set in. Tries had been scored equally between forwards and backs with the front row unusually scoring the majority (a third) of their tries, so the Knights must be wary of push over tries from set pieces. Either by the front row barrelling over or by flanker Short or hooker Crane peeling off the melee to score.
Team strengths and weaknesses
Fortunately for the Knights Hartpury had conceded 65% more tries than the Knights had. Unfortunately for the Knights is that only 40% of their conceded tries had been at home, where they are inevitably stronger. Hartpury had leaked the third highest number of tries scored in the Championship scored by forwards. They were one of four teams to have conceded a brace of penalty tries. Over half of their conceded tries had been scored by forwards, particularly the front and back rows, so the Knights want to look at scoring in a similar way that they must be wary of conceding - off the set piece. Only four teams in the Championship had leaked more tries to wingers, so the Knights should ship the ball out wide as often as possible.
Inter-team linkages
Ex-Knight utility back Charlie Foley joined Hartpury pre-season to join his brother winger Ben. Additionally ex-Knight player/manager Derek Eves’ son Luke Eves plays centre for Hartpury after signing from Premiership outfit Bristol Bears.
The rest of the Championship
Nottingham (10th, played 6 games) host London Scottish (bottom, played 7 games) on Friday 19th November.
Cornish Pirates (2nd, played 6 games) welcome Bedford Blues (5th, played 6 games)
Ealing Trailfinders (top, played 6 games) play Jersey Reds (3rd, played 6 games)
Richmond (6th, played 7 games) v Ampthill (9th, played 6 games) on Saturday 20th November.
Coventry (8th) BYE.
We all know the division is very tight with just eight points separating fourth from tenth.
A Knight defeat could see the Knights drop to eighth, a bonus point win would be needed for the Knights to get to third if Jersey Reds don’t score a league point at Ealing Trailfinders.
COYK
DONNY, DONNY, DONNY…
