Post by Jamie Crawford on Sept 26, 2022 17:33:55 GMT
Nottingham preview
sponsored by Twenty Four IT Services (www.twentyfourit.co.uk)
Round 4, Nottingham v Doncaster Knights @ Lady Bay, Friday 30th September 7.45pm KO
Nottingham RFC
…was established about 1877 by Alexander Birkin after returning from Rugby School, where he was introduced to the sport. The Birkin family later purchased the land at Ireland Avenue that would be the home of the club until 2006.
Known as the Archers, they now play their home games at Lady Bay, which has a capacity 3,500, so not enough to meet even a revised 5,000 capacity entry requirement into the premiership this season. They have, however a standing agreement with Notts County football club to ground-share with them at meadow lane where they played from 2006 to 2015. Meadow lane has a capacity of 19,841.
New signings
• Jack Dickinson Hooker from Ampthill RFC. Dickinson started as a Nottingham Mini-Junior
• Harry Clayton Hooker from Newcastle University and Coventry
• Xavier Valentine Prop from Leeds Tykes, ex-London Scottish
• Ross Bund Second Row from Rennes in France. Former Scotland U20
• Iosefa Maloney-Fiola Second Row from the Bay of Plenty in NZ.
• Javiah Pohe Centre. Ex-Archer from London Scottish and Leicester Tigers.
• Liam Slatem Scrum Half from HK Scottish and Hong Kong International team.
• Michael Green Centre also joining us from HK Scottish.
• Jack Neville Utility Back from HK with international sevens caps for HK.
• Jordan Olowofela Centre/Wing from Leicester Tigers
• Marcus Ramage Wing from Cardiff University
Jersey Reds then Ealing Trailfinders are the only two teams with the maximum 15 points from three games. Below them are Bedford Blues, Nottingham, Doncaster Knights and Coventry respectively on ten points from two bonus point wins and one loss. Nottingham (and Bedford Blues) are only above the Knights courtesy of a points difference of two higher. The Blues have scored more points than Nottingham and are therefore higher. Neither the Knights or Nottingham have played a team that the other has played this season, so there is no comparison of performance.
Recent head to head performances
1/04/22 Nottingham 5-26 Doncaster Knights
11/12/21 Doncaster Knights 45-21 Nottingham
19/05/21 Doncaster Knights 29-24 Nottingham
21/02/20 Nottingham 15-0 Doncaster Knights
18/01/20 Doncaster Knights 16-15 Nottingham
Historically fixtures have been close affairs apart from during and after Covid. An injured Knight Winger Jack Spittle will wish he could play against his old team.
Last time out
Nottingham scored three tries to beat Championship new entrants, Caldy 19-27. Tries were scored by Hooker Slatem, Winger Olowofela and replacement Wing/Scrum-half Graham.
The Knights scored seven tries to beat Richmond 48-24, They took maximum points despite trailing at the break and, at one stage, going down to 12 men after a spate of yellow cards late on. It was a game of cards when the Knights had less than a full team on the pitch for about 60% of the game after five players were yellow carded in total. Richmond also received a couple of yellow cards.
Knight Winger Maliq Holden scored a hattrick of tries against Richmond plus Winger George Simpson, Centre Conner Edwards, Hooker George Roberts and Centre Robbie Smith also dotted down.
Nottingham danger men
In addition to the players listed above v Caldy; Prop Richardson, Winger Williams, Centre Thacker and Centre Ramage scored against London Scottish.
No. 8 Poullet, Fly Half Hollingsworth and Hooker Slatem touched down against the Cornish Pirates. So far this season, the newly signed Hooker Slatem is the only Archer that has scored more than one try.
Winger Williams dotted down 15 tries last season, the equal-sixth highest.
Team strengths and weaknesses
Fly Half Sam Hollingsworth is the second-highest points-scorer in the Championship this season.
Nottingham have conceded the third fewest points in the Championship at their home, Lady Bay.
A Wing, a Hooker, two Props and a No.8 have scored against the Archers. Thus far they have been weaker in their forwards plus the Hooker usually scores after peeling off a set piece dominated by the Forwards.
The rest of the Championship
Friday 30th
Jersey Reds (1) v Cornish Pirates (7)
Nottingham (4) v Doncaster Knights (5)
Saturday 1st October
Ampthill (11) v London Scottish (12)
Bedford Blues (3) v Caldy (8)
Coventry (6) v Ealing Trailfinders (2)
Richmond (10) v Hartpury (9)
After the Richmond game the club announced the month-long loan signing of prop Jake Armstrong from Bristol Bears. Jake played for the Knights about six years ago and is welcome back, he came on as a replacement against Richmond.
COYK
DONNY, DONNY, DONNY…
sponsored by Twenty Four IT Services (www.twentyfourit.co.uk)
Round 4, Nottingham v Doncaster Knights @ Lady Bay, Friday 30th September 7.45pm KO
Nottingham RFC
…was established about 1877 by Alexander Birkin after returning from Rugby School, where he was introduced to the sport. The Birkin family later purchased the land at Ireland Avenue that would be the home of the club until 2006.
Known as the Archers, they now play their home games at Lady Bay, which has a capacity 3,500, so not enough to meet even a revised 5,000 capacity entry requirement into the premiership this season. They have, however a standing agreement with Notts County football club to ground-share with them at meadow lane where they played from 2006 to 2015. Meadow lane has a capacity of 19,841.
New signings
• Jack Dickinson Hooker from Ampthill RFC. Dickinson started as a Nottingham Mini-Junior
• Harry Clayton Hooker from Newcastle University and Coventry
• Xavier Valentine Prop from Leeds Tykes, ex-London Scottish
• Ross Bund Second Row from Rennes in France. Former Scotland U20
• Iosefa Maloney-Fiola Second Row from the Bay of Plenty in NZ.
• Javiah Pohe Centre. Ex-Archer from London Scottish and Leicester Tigers.
• Liam Slatem Scrum Half from HK Scottish and Hong Kong International team.
• Michael Green Centre also joining us from HK Scottish.
• Jack Neville Utility Back from HK with international sevens caps for HK.
• Jordan Olowofela Centre/Wing from Leicester Tigers
• Marcus Ramage Wing from Cardiff University
Jersey Reds then Ealing Trailfinders are the only two teams with the maximum 15 points from three games. Below them are Bedford Blues, Nottingham, Doncaster Knights and Coventry respectively on ten points from two bonus point wins and one loss. Nottingham (and Bedford Blues) are only above the Knights courtesy of a points difference of two higher. The Blues have scored more points than Nottingham and are therefore higher. Neither the Knights or Nottingham have played a team that the other has played this season, so there is no comparison of performance.
Recent head to head performances
1/04/22 Nottingham 5-26 Doncaster Knights
11/12/21 Doncaster Knights 45-21 Nottingham
19/05/21 Doncaster Knights 29-24 Nottingham
21/02/20 Nottingham 15-0 Doncaster Knights
18/01/20 Doncaster Knights 16-15 Nottingham
Historically fixtures have been close affairs apart from during and after Covid. An injured Knight Winger Jack Spittle will wish he could play against his old team.
Last time out
Nottingham scored three tries to beat Championship new entrants, Caldy 19-27. Tries were scored by Hooker Slatem, Winger Olowofela and replacement Wing/Scrum-half Graham.
The Knights scored seven tries to beat Richmond 48-24, They took maximum points despite trailing at the break and, at one stage, going down to 12 men after a spate of yellow cards late on. It was a game of cards when the Knights had less than a full team on the pitch for about 60% of the game after five players were yellow carded in total. Richmond also received a couple of yellow cards.
Knight Winger Maliq Holden scored a hattrick of tries against Richmond plus Winger George Simpson, Centre Conner Edwards, Hooker George Roberts and Centre Robbie Smith also dotted down.
Nottingham danger men
In addition to the players listed above v Caldy; Prop Richardson, Winger Williams, Centre Thacker and Centre Ramage scored against London Scottish.
No. 8 Poullet, Fly Half Hollingsworth and Hooker Slatem touched down against the Cornish Pirates. So far this season, the newly signed Hooker Slatem is the only Archer that has scored more than one try.
Winger Williams dotted down 15 tries last season, the equal-sixth highest.
Team strengths and weaknesses
Fly Half Sam Hollingsworth is the second-highest points-scorer in the Championship this season.
Nottingham have conceded the third fewest points in the Championship at their home, Lady Bay.
A Wing, a Hooker, two Props and a No.8 have scored against the Archers. Thus far they have been weaker in their forwards plus the Hooker usually scores after peeling off a set piece dominated by the Forwards.
The rest of the Championship
Friday 30th
Jersey Reds (1) v Cornish Pirates (7)
Nottingham (4) v Doncaster Knights (5)
Saturday 1st October
Ampthill (11) v London Scottish (12)
Bedford Blues (3) v Caldy (8)
Coventry (6) v Ealing Trailfinders (2)
Richmond (10) v Hartpury (9)
After the Richmond game the club announced the month-long loan signing of prop Jake Armstrong from Bristol Bears. Jake played for the Knights about six years ago and is welcome back, he came on as a replacement against Richmond.
COYK
DONNY, DONNY, DONNY…
