Post by Jamie Crawford on Dec 6, 2021 15:25:44 GMT
Nottingham rugby preview
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Round 11, Doncaster Knights v Nottingham Rugby, Castle Park, Sat 11th Dec - 2:30pm
Nottingham Rugby; known as the Archers or the Green and Whites
Unfortunately, last year Nottingham became one of seven teams this season in the Championship that are part time professional.
Leicester Tigers and Nottingham Rugby agreed a formal partnership with co-operation on coaching resources and player opportunities. They aligned their rugby programmes both on and off the field. This includes the dual-registration of several players to get valuable game-time in this season's Championship.
Recent head to head performances
Last May the Knights beat Nottingham at Castle Park by five points, 29-24. Prior to that in February 2020 at Nottingham’s Lady Bay home, the Knights returned home without scoring a point, the result was 15-0. In January 2020 Knights had a home win by a point, 16-15. In February 2019 the Knights suffered a two-point home defeat, 23-25. A similar fate was suffered in the Championship Cup two months earlier when the Knights lost 14-19. However, the Knights charged home 15-20 winners in November 2018. Scores have always been close in the ‘local’ derby, normally with the losing side at least scoring a losing bonus point.
In the last full season of Championship rugby, Nottingham finished sixth and the Knights finished ninth. Nottingham scored 39 tries to the Knights’ 30 (30% more) and conceded 31 tries to the Knights’ 50 (38% fewer).
A few seasons ago the Knights beat Nottingham at Castle Park in another close game that unusually saw Nottingham leave Doncaster as losers but they still scored two league points after scoring four tries and finishing seven points or fewer than the Knights. This lessened the Knights’ five point, bonus point win to just three points over Nottingham.
Last time out
Nottingham’s game against Jersey reds was postponed last Friday after Nottingham reported four confirmed COVID-19 cases. I wonder if that will impact Saturday’s game.
Knights away supporters drove home in disappointed mood following their 29-7 defeat against the Cornish Pirates. They were more disappointed with the lack of quality the Knights displayed following their superb performance the week before. The Pirates were without a player for 30 minutes in total after three players were shown the yellow card, the Knights played 13 men for a short time whilst two sin bins overlapped. The general feeling was that the Knights lost the game rather than the Pirates won it. You don’t mind losing to a superior performance if you have played well but…
Nottingham danger men
After scoring five tries over eight games, winger David Williams is Nottingham’s top try-scorer, hooker Jake Farnworth is second and centre Charlie Thacker is third.
Fly-half Sam Hollingsworth has a strike rate of 70%, which places him in the top ten in the Championship.
Team strengths and weaknesses
Nottingham have scored 22 tries, 36% of these were away from home. Backs have scored 14 of these and wingers have touched down six. Their front row have recorded 72% of their tries scored by Nottingham forwards.
They have conceded 42 tries, 62% of which have been conceded away. These have predominantly been conceded across the field but 24% have been conceded by wingers. Next highest are the front row and back row positions, to which each over 21% have been conceded.
Saturday’s game.
Doncaster Knights are fourth after winning six and losing three of their nine games played. Nottingham are tenth after winning three and losing five of the eight games that they have played. Nottingham could be seventh if they had scored a bonus point win against Jersey Reds, which would place them three league places below the Knights.
The Knights have the unenviable statistic of scoring the least amount of bonus points with just two scored. Even London Scottish have scored three after they have only won one game and scored just over 17 points per game.
The Knights have scored more tries and points plus conceded fewer than Nottingham even though Nottingham have played a game less, however everybody knows that local derby’s render the form book obsolete. Nottingham have had an extra week to prepare so it will depend on which Doncaster team they play. The one that toppled Championship leaders Ealing Trailfinders should record a comfortable victory but the Doncaster side that lost to the Cornish Pirates last Sunday would probably lose their fortress Castle Park reputation. Any neutral supporter should see an exciting game of rugby with many tries being scored in what will potentially be a close game.
The rest of the Championship
Ampthill (9) v Cornish Pirates (2)
Jersey Reds (3) v Coventry (7)
Bedford Blues (6) v London Scottish (11)
Richmond (8) v Ealing Trailfinders (1)
Hartpury BYE
A Doncaster Knight win would see them rise one place to third if Coventry beat Jersey, although this might be temporary if the Reds win their game in hand against Nottingham. A Knights defeat would see them drop a place to fifth if Bedford beat the Scottish exiles.
COYK
DONNY, DONNY, DONNY…
sponsored by Twenty Four IT Services (www.twentyfourit.co.uk)
Round 11, Doncaster Knights v Nottingham Rugby, Castle Park, Sat 11th Dec - 2:30pm
Nottingham Rugby; known as the Archers or the Green and Whites
Unfortunately, last year Nottingham became one of seven teams this season in the Championship that are part time professional.
Leicester Tigers and Nottingham Rugby agreed a formal partnership with co-operation on coaching resources and player opportunities. They aligned their rugby programmes both on and off the field. This includes the dual-registration of several players to get valuable game-time in this season's Championship.
Recent head to head performances
Last May the Knights beat Nottingham at Castle Park by five points, 29-24. Prior to that in February 2020 at Nottingham’s Lady Bay home, the Knights returned home without scoring a point, the result was 15-0. In January 2020 Knights had a home win by a point, 16-15. In February 2019 the Knights suffered a two-point home defeat, 23-25. A similar fate was suffered in the Championship Cup two months earlier when the Knights lost 14-19. However, the Knights charged home 15-20 winners in November 2018. Scores have always been close in the ‘local’ derby, normally with the losing side at least scoring a losing bonus point.
In the last full season of Championship rugby, Nottingham finished sixth and the Knights finished ninth. Nottingham scored 39 tries to the Knights’ 30 (30% more) and conceded 31 tries to the Knights’ 50 (38% fewer).
A few seasons ago the Knights beat Nottingham at Castle Park in another close game that unusually saw Nottingham leave Doncaster as losers but they still scored two league points after scoring four tries and finishing seven points or fewer than the Knights. This lessened the Knights’ five point, bonus point win to just three points over Nottingham.
Last time out
Nottingham’s game against Jersey reds was postponed last Friday after Nottingham reported four confirmed COVID-19 cases. I wonder if that will impact Saturday’s game.
Knights away supporters drove home in disappointed mood following their 29-7 defeat against the Cornish Pirates. They were more disappointed with the lack of quality the Knights displayed following their superb performance the week before. The Pirates were without a player for 30 minutes in total after three players were shown the yellow card, the Knights played 13 men for a short time whilst two sin bins overlapped. The general feeling was that the Knights lost the game rather than the Pirates won it. You don’t mind losing to a superior performance if you have played well but…
Nottingham danger men
After scoring five tries over eight games, winger David Williams is Nottingham’s top try-scorer, hooker Jake Farnworth is second and centre Charlie Thacker is third.
Fly-half Sam Hollingsworth has a strike rate of 70%, which places him in the top ten in the Championship.
Team strengths and weaknesses
Nottingham have scored 22 tries, 36% of these were away from home. Backs have scored 14 of these and wingers have touched down six. Their front row have recorded 72% of their tries scored by Nottingham forwards.
They have conceded 42 tries, 62% of which have been conceded away. These have predominantly been conceded across the field but 24% have been conceded by wingers. Next highest are the front row and back row positions, to which each over 21% have been conceded.
Saturday’s game.
Doncaster Knights are fourth after winning six and losing three of their nine games played. Nottingham are tenth after winning three and losing five of the eight games that they have played. Nottingham could be seventh if they had scored a bonus point win against Jersey Reds, which would place them three league places below the Knights.
The Knights have the unenviable statistic of scoring the least amount of bonus points with just two scored. Even London Scottish have scored three after they have only won one game and scored just over 17 points per game.
The Knights have scored more tries and points plus conceded fewer than Nottingham even though Nottingham have played a game less, however everybody knows that local derby’s render the form book obsolete. Nottingham have had an extra week to prepare so it will depend on which Doncaster team they play. The one that toppled Championship leaders Ealing Trailfinders should record a comfortable victory but the Doncaster side that lost to the Cornish Pirates last Sunday would probably lose their fortress Castle Park reputation. Any neutral supporter should see an exciting game of rugby with many tries being scored in what will potentially be a close game.
The rest of the Championship
Ampthill (9) v Cornish Pirates (2)
Jersey Reds (3) v Coventry (7)
Bedford Blues (6) v London Scottish (11)
Richmond (8) v Ealing Trailfinders (1)
Hartpury BYE
A Doncaster Knight win would see them rise one place to third if Coventry beat Jersey, although this might be temporary if the Reds win their game in hand against Nottingham. A Knights defeat would see them drop a place to fifth if Bedford beat the Scottish exiles.
COYK
DONNY, DONNY, DONNY…
