Post by Jamie Crawford on Dec 14, 2021 11:50:34 GMT
Coventry preview
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Round 12, Doncaster Knights v Coventry, Castle Park 18th December, KO 2:30 pm
Coventry Rugby
… enjoyed great success during the 1960s and 70s, with many players representing their countries. By the early 1970s thirteen players from the club represented England. More recently Cov has flitted between England rugby’s second and third tiers in 1995/96 and in 2010/11. They regained promotion at the first time of asking in 1996 but it took eight seasons the second time to gain promotion in 2018.
Recent head to head performances
Cov were the Knights’ first league game down at Butts Park Arena and the Knights started well with the first points and the first try but Cov levelled the scores at 10-10 in time for oranges. Cov gained some form in the second half and ended the game five tries to three winners, 39-22. The standout Cov players were back rows Josh Bainbridge and Ryan Burrows, who were also try-scorers. Ex-Knight Will Owen also gave a noteworthy display. Last season in March the Knights ran out winners by a point at Castle Park 20-19. Three tries apiece were scored. The final game of the 2019/20 season in March saw Cov do the double over the Knights with a 26-35 win at Castle Park. They previously won 18-6 in Coventry.
Last time out…
Coventry flew to Jersey to play the then third-placed Reds and won a bonus point, losing 29-24. Cov tries were scored by Leicester loanee prop Will Hurd, Exeter Chiefs loanee flanker Aaron Hinkley and scrum-half Joe Snow.
The Knights welcomed Nottingham in both team’s local derby. The Knights’ seven tries scored , which included three from George Edgson, helped the Doncaster Knights secure a 45-12, bonus point win against Nottingham at Castle Park today. The win secured the highest number of points scored in the Championship on that day.
Cov danger men
Cov’s development fly half Evan Mitchell is the equal-second individual highest points-scorer in one game, notching up 20 points against Nottingham in November. Mitchell is also the equal fifth highest penalty scorer in a match. Development fly half Tom Curtis scored 14 of Cov’s points when they beat the Knights.
Team strengths and weaknesses
Cov are not prolific try-scorers, scoring the second fewest tries in the Championship, however their defence is far superior, they had the fifth strongest defence of their try-line. The Cornish Pirates hold the honour of conceding fewest tries, with Jersey Reds second. The Knights are third surprisingly after fourth-placed Ealing Trailfinders conceded a try more last Saturday.
Cov’s tries have mainly been scored by their wingers and half-backs, then by their back row. Cov have inadequately defended their try-line against opposition wingers. Opposite half-backs and back row are second, followed by the front row.
Cov are one of only four teams that have gone on to win every game when they were winning at half time, so the Knights need to start strongly and be winning at half time.
Saturday’s game
It is Cov’s second consecutive away game after losing in Jersey against third-placed Reds. Cov was the Knights’ opening league game and it was an under-par Knight performance. Even though Cov have lost six of the ten games they’ve played and sit eleven league points below the Knights, the Knights must not underestimate them. They already have the confidence of knowing that they beat us 39-22 last September plus they flew to Jersey to play a team above the Knights and ended with a bonus point by finishing just five points behind the Reds and scoring three tries.
The rest of the Championship
Hartpury (6) v Ealing Trailfinders (1)
Richmond (8) v Cornish Pirates (2)
Ampthill (9) v Nottingham (10)
Jersey Reds (3) v London Scottish (11)
Bedford Blues BYE
The Knights are fourth and Coventry are seventh. A Knight win could see them rise to third if Jersey lose to London Scottish but they will still have their game to play against Nottingham. A Knight loss could see them drop to fifth if Hartpury beat Ealing Trailfinders with a bonus point. Bedford are below in sixth but they are starting the second round of BYES (home and away) and so are not playing.
COYK
DONNY, DONNY, DONNY…
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Round 12, Doncaster Knights v Coventry, Castle Park 18th December, KO 2:30 pm
Coventry Rugby
… enjoyed great success during the 1960s and 70s, with many players representing their countries. By the early 1970s thirteen players from the club represented England. More recently Cov has flitted between England rugby’s second and third tiers in 1995/96 and in 2010/11. They regained promotion at the first time of asking in 1996 but it took eight seasons the second time to gain promotion in 2018.
Recent head to head performances
Cov were the Knights’ first league game down at Butts Park Arena and the Knights started well with the first points and the first try but Cov levelled the scores at 10-10 in time for oranges. Cov gained some form in the second half and ended the game five tries to three winners, 39-22. The standout Cov players were back rows Josh Bainbridge and Ryan Burrows, who were also try-scorers. Ex-Knight Will Owen also gave a noteworthy display. Last season in March the Knights ran out winners by a point at Castle Park 20-19. Three tries apiece were scored. The final game of the 2019/20 season in March saw Cov do the double over the Knights with a 26-35 win at Castle Park. They previously won 18-6 in Coventry.
Last time out…
Coventry flew to Jersey to play the then third-placed Reds and won a bonus point, losing 29-24. Cov tries were scored by Leicester loanee prop Will Hurd, Exeter Chiefs loanee flanker Aaron Hinkley and scrum-half Joe Snow.
The Knights welcomed Nottingham in both team’s local derby. The Knights’ seven tries scored , which included three from George Edgson, helped the Doncaster Knights secure a 45-12, bonus point win against Nottingham at Castle Park today. The win secured the highest number of points scored in the Championship on that day.
Cov danger men
Cov’s development fly half Evan Mitchell is the equal-second individual highest points-scorer in one game, notching up 20 points against Nottingham in November. Mitchell is also the equal fifth highest penalty scorer in a match. Development fly half Tom Curtis scored 14 of Cov’s points when they beat the Knights.
Team strengths and weaknesses
Cov are not prolific try-scorers, scoring the second fewest tries in the Championship, however their defence is far superior, they had the fifth strongest defence of their try-line. The Cornish Pirates hold the honour of conceding fewest tries, with Jersey Reds second. The Knights are third surprisingly after fourth-placed Ealing Trailfinders conceded a try more last Saturday.
Cov’s tries have mainly been scored by their wingers and half-backs, then by their back row. Cov have inadequately defended their try-line against opposition wingers. Opposite half-backs and back row are second, followed by the front row.
Cov are one of only four teams that have gone on to win every game when they were winning at half time, so the Knights need to start strongly and be winning at half time.
Saturday’s game
It is Cov’s second consecutive away game after losing in Jersey against third-placed Reds. Cov was the Knights’ opening league game and it was an under-par Knight performance. Even though Cov have lost six of the ten games they’ve played and sit eleven league points below the Knights, the Knights must not underestimate them. They already have the confidence of knowing that they beat us 39-22 last September plus they flew to Jersey to play a team above the Knights and ended with a bonus point by finishing just five points behind the Reds and scoring three tries.
The rest of the Championship
Hartpury (6) v Ealing Trailfinders (1)
Richmond (8) v Cornish Pirates (2)
Ampthill (9) v Nottingham (10)
Jersey Reds (3) v London Scottish (11)
Bedford Blues BYE
The Knights are fourth and Coventry are seventh. A Knight win could see them rise to third if Jersey lose to London Scottish but they will still have their game to play against Nottingham. A Knight loss could see them drop to fifth if Hartpury beat Ealing Trailfinders with a bonus point. Bedford are below in sixth but they are starting the second round of BYES (home and away) and so are not playing.
COYK
DONNY, DONNY, DONNY…
