Post by Jamie Crawford on Aug 29, 2022 10:03:53 GMT
Doncaster Knights v Newcastle Falcons pre-season
sponsored by Twenty Four IT Services (www.twentyfourit.co.uk)
Doncaster Knights welcome Premiership outfit Newcastle Falcons to Castle Park on Friday 2nd September, KO 7.45pm.
Just before the first game against Wasps No. 8 Thom Smith and Fly Half Sam Olver were appointed Knights Co-Captains.
Newcastle Falcons Rugby Club
The Falcons were established in 1877 as the Gosforth Football Club. Around 1882 they merged with the Northumberland Football Club and briefly took on their name until 1887. In 1990, the name was changed to Newcastle Gosforth and they began to play at Kingston Park stadium in Kingston Park, Newcastle upon Tyne. Then in 1996, following the start of professionalism they briefly adopted the name Newcastle Rugby Club before changing to it to its current name.
Today the Newcastle Falcons are the most successful club in northern England, winning the premiership once as well as four additional domestic cups.
In 1995 Newcastle became the first fully "professional" club in the world, with Sir John Hall at the helm, who appointed former Wasps captain Rob Andrew as his salaried Director of Rugby. This saw the club earn promotion from the national Second Division to the Premiership.
Johnny Wilkinson was born in Newcastle and Newcastle was the only English club that he played for professionally from 1997 to 2009.
Previously
Falcons’ supporters are not happy with last season’s eleventh place. According to the league table, they were only above bottom-placed Bath Rugby by virtue of winning an extra game, although Bath gained two points from the RFU after a fixture cancellation. That said, last season Premiership teams had no fear of relegation due to the RFU abandoning relegation for the season to allow Premiership teams to recuperate after fixtures were severely disrupted by covid. One assumes that some teams viewed the lack of relegation as an opportunity to severely reduce the spend on players because revenues had taken a pounding. This theory is ‘confirmed’ after the Falcons were only beaten by 14 points against last season’s Gallagher Premiership champions despite playing nearly 40% of the game with 14 players. Three months ago, the Falcons lost 5 V 27 to Leicester Tigers with a full team of players.
This year's Falcons summer signings include ex-Knight Lock Josh Peters.
Last time out
The Falcons began their pre-season on 26th August campaign with a 42-28 away loss to Leicester Tigers. The Falcons were resolute because they scored four tries against the Gallagher Premiership champions despite playing half an hour with 14 men.
Doncaster Knights welcomed Wasps to Castle Park on the same date but lost 0-56 to the Premiership side. There were too many uncharacteristic, missed tackles by the Knights, primarily in the first half but their passing and lineouts were reliable.
The positives for the Knights to take from the game were a vastly improved second half, relinquishing 39 points in the first half then 17 in the second half. Competent lineouts, adept passing of the ball and an improved tackling performance as the game progressed.
There was much to learn, which is the reason for pre-season games. The lads never gave up, their fitness levels look very high and the new signings seemed to gel well.
Bodes (Steve Boden, Knights Head Coach) won’t let his team wallow in self-doubt. They were beaten comfortably far a far better team.
Knights out (-performing the Wasps)
Despite the resounding defeat there were moments when the Doncaster side looked more proficient, such as when there was ace of hands from Jack Spittle and George Simpson that released Harry Davey; he managed to sneak the ball off to Robbie Smith. The new centre fed Sam Daly for a charging run into the 22 but a steal at a following lineout put Wasps back in charge.
Another moment that pleased the crowd of 1586 supporters (great for a pre-season game) was when Simpson charged down a kick for territory, returned with a superb kick that went into touch for a Knights lineout in the opposition 22.
New Knights Maurice Nwakor and Ehize Ehizode impressed.
Falcons to watch for
Centre Matias Moroni, who played for Argentina in the 48-17 home win over Australia on 13th August.
Falcon tries against the Tigers were scored by tries from Flanker Gary Graham, Wing Iwan Stephens, Wing Adam Radwan and Scrum Half Cameron Nordli-Kelemeti.
Apparently, Falcon Scrum Halves Josh Barton and Micky Young played well and Josh Thomas kicked two touchline conversions. He also created the try for Stephens with a lovely kick and generally looked comfortable on the field.
The Knights’ ‘first night’ is an away game against Ealing Trailfinders at Vallis Way, West Ealing on Saturday 10th September with a 3pm KO.
COYK
DONNY, DONNY, DONNY…
sponsored by Twenty Four IT Services (www.twentyfourit.co.uk)
Doncaster Knights welcome Premiership outfit Newcastle Falcons to Castle Park on Friday 2nd September, KO 7.45pm.
Just before the first game against Wasps No. 8 Thom Smith and Fly Half Sam Olver were appointed Knights Co-Captains.
Newcastle Falcons Rugby Club
The Falcons were established in 1877 as the Gosforth Football Club. Around 1882 they merged with the Northumberland Football Club and briefly took on their name until 1887. In 1990, the name was changed to Newcastle Gosforth and they began to play at Kingston Park stadium in Kingston Park, Newcastle upon Tyne. Then in 1996, following the start of professionalism they briefly adopted the name Newcastle Rugby Club before changing to it to its current name.
Today the Newcastle Falcons are the most successful club in northern England, winning the premiership once as well as four additional domestic cups.
In 1995 Newcastle became the first fully "professional" club in the world, with Sir John Hall at the helm, who appointed former Wasps captain Rob Andrew as his salaried Director of Rugby. This saw the club earn promotion from the national Second Division to the Premiership.
Johnny Wilkinson was born in Newcastle and Newcastle was the only English club that he played for professionally from 1997 to 2009.
Previously
Falcons’ supporters are not happy with last season’s eleventh place. According to the league table, they were only above bottom-placed Bath Rugby by virtue of winning an extra game, although Bath gained two points from the RFU after a fixture cancellation. That said, last season Premiership teams had no fear of relegation due to the RFU abandoning relegation for the season to allow Premiership teams to recuperate after fixtures were severely disrupted by covid. One assumes that some teams viewed the lack of relegation as an opportunity to severely reduce the spend on players because revenues had taken a pounding. This theory is ‘confirmed’ after the Falcons were only beaten by 14 points against last season’s Gallagher Premiership champions despite playing nearly 40% of the game with 14 players. Three months ago, the Falcons lost 5 V 27 to Leicester Tigers with a full team of players.
This year's Falcons summer signings include ex-Knight Lock Josh Peters.
Last time out
The Falcons began their pre-season on 26th August campaign with a 42-28 away loss to Leicester Tigers. The Falcons were resolute because they scored four tries against the Gallagher Premiership champions despite playing half an hour with 14 men.
Doncaster Knights welcomed Wasps to Castle Park on the same date but lost 0-56 to the Premiership side. There were too many uncharacteristic, missed tackles by the Knights, primarily in the first half but their passing and lineouts were reliable.
The positives for the Knights to take from the game were a vastly improved second half, relinquishing 39 points in the first half then 17 in the second half. Competent lineouts, adept passing of the ball and an improved tackling performance as the game progressed.
There was much to learn, which is the reason for pre-season games. The lads never gave up, their fitness levels look very high and the new signings seemed to gel well.
Bodes (Steve Boden, Knights Head Coach) won’t let his team wallow in self-doubt. They were beaten comfortably far a far better team.
Knights out (-performing the Wasps)
Despite the resounding defeat there were moments when the Doncaster side looked more proficient, such as when there was ace of hands from Jack Spittle and George Simpson that released Harry Davey; he managed to sneak the ball off to Robbie Smith. The new centre fed Sam Daly for a charging run into the 22 but a steal at a following lineout put Wasps back in charge.
Another moment that pleased the crowd of 1586 supporters (great for a pre-season game) was when Simpson charged down a kick for territory, returned with a superb kick that went into touch for a Knights lineout in the opposition 22.
New Knights Maurice Nwakor and Ehize Ehizode impressed.
Falcons to watch for
Centre Matias Moroni, who played for Argentina in the 48-17 home win over Australia on 13th August.
Falcon tries against the Tigers were scored by tries from Flanker Gary Graham, Wing Iwan Stephens, Wing Adam Radwan and Scrum Half Cameron Nordli-Kelemeti.
Apparently, Falcon Scrum Halves Josh Barton and Micky Young played well and Josh Thomas kicked two touchline conversions. He also created the try for Stephens with a lovely kick and generally looked comfortable on the field.
The Knights’ ‘first night’ is an away game against Ealing Trailfinders at Vallis Way, West Ealing on Saturday 10th September with a 3pm KO.
COYK
DONNY, DONNY, DONNY…
