Post by Jamie Crawford on Jan 10, 2023 16:32:46 GMT
Hartpury RFC preview
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Round 12, Doncaster Knights v Hartpury RFC, Castle Park 14th January 2023, KO 2:30 pm
Hartpury University rugby team are a breeding ground for professional rugby players, more than 200 of their students have gained international caps or signed professional contracts around the world.
On 10th December Hartpury beat third-placed Coventry 45-36, then on 23rd December Hartpury beat the Knights’ last opponents, the Cornish Pirates 22-16. Hartpury know how to perform and have very similar scoring stats to the Knights.
Both teams have won and lost the same number of games. Sixth-placed Hartpury have scored 43 points fewer over eleven games (3.9/game) and conceded 18 more (1.6/game) than fifth-placed Knights. They have scored nine tries fewer and conceded just four more tries. The point difference is an extra bonus point scored by the Knights (6 v 5).
Hartpury have conceded the fourth fewest points away from home in the Championship and are the equal-third best travellers.
They played London Scottish in their rearranged fixture on the same day that the Knights went to play the Cornish Pirates. Hartpury won in London 19-20, a close result but still a win. The Knights lost 37-15 against the Pirates in Cornwall. Both teams will be smarting from a close score and a loss and will want to perform better this Saturday, so expect both teams to perform optimally.
Last Saturday Hartpury tries were scored by Centre Robbie Smith, Hooker Will Tanner and Scrum Half Matty Jones.
Cornish Pirates (7) play Nottingham (8, game in hand) on Friday 13th.
Games being played on the 14th are:
Caldy (10) v Richmond (9)
Coventry (3) v Jersey Reds (2)
Doncaster Knights (5) v Hartpury RFC (6)
Ealing Trailfinders (1) v Ampthill (11, game in hand)
London Scottish (12) v Bedford Blues (4)
Seventh plays eighth on Friday and they have equal league points but only the Pirates could overtake a defeated Hartpury if the Pirates won and scored four tries or more because they’ve won one more game than Nottingham. On Saturday third plays second but the result won’t affect league positions, fifth plays sixth and tenth play ninth; the winner remains in their league position or leapfrogs their opponent.
A Knight W will see them rise to fourth if Bedford Lose.
A Knight L will see them drop to sixth if Hartpury beat us, so fourth/fifth or sixth is in our own hands.
The Knights announced the signing of Yorkshire bred utility back Jack Metcalf for the remainder of the 2022/23 season on Thursday 5th January. This is to ease the current injury situation and increase competition for starting places. Jack arrives in Doncaster from Championship competition, Ealing Trailfinders. Jack played last week in Cornwall.
COYK
DONNY, DONNY, DONNY…
sponsored by Twenty Four IT Services (www.twentyfourit.co.uk)
Round 12, Doncaster Knights v Hartpury RFC, Castle Park 14th January 2023, KO 2:30 pm
Hartpury University rugby team are a breeding ground for professional rugby players, more than 200 of their students have gained international caps or signed professional contracts around the world.
On 10th December Hartpury beat third-placed Coventry 45-36, then on 23rd December Hartpury beat the Knights’ last opponents, the Cornish Pirates 22-16. Hartpury know how to perform and have very similar scoring stats to the Knights.
Both teams have won and lost the same number of games. Sixth-placed Hartpury have scored 43 points fewer over eleven games (3.9/game) and conceded 18 more (1.6/game) than fifth-placed Knights. They have scored nine tries fewer and conceded just four more tries. The point difference is an extra bonus point scored by the Knights (6 v 5).
Hartpury have conceded the fourth fewest points away from home in the Championship and are the equal-third best travellers.
They played London Scottish in their rearranged fixture on the same day that the Knights went to play the Cornish Pirates. Hartpury won in London 19-20, a close result but still a win. The Knights lost 37-15 against the Pirates in Cornwall. Both teams will be smarting from a close score and a loss and will want to perform better this Saturday, so expect both teams to perform optimally.
Last Saturday Hartpury tries were scored by Centre Robbie Smith, Hooker Will Tanner and Scrum Half Matty Jones.
Cornish Pirates (7) play Nottingham (8, game in hand) on Friday 13th.
Games being played on the 14th are:
Caldy (10) v Richmond (9)
Coventry (3) v Jersey Reds (2)
Doncaster Knights (5) v Hartpury RFC (6)
Ealing Trailfinders (1) v Ampthill (11, game in hand)
London Scottish (12) v Bedford Blues (4)
Seventh plays eighth on Friday and they have equal league points but only the Pirates could overtake a defeated Hartpury if the Pirates won and scored four tries or more because they’ve won one more game than Nottingham. On Saturday third plays second but the result won’t affect league positions, fifth plays sixth and tenth play ninth; the winner remains in their league position or leapfrogs their opponent.
A Knight W will see them rise to fourth if Bedford Lose.
A Knight L will see them drop to sixth if Hartpury beat us, so fourth/fifth or sixth is in our own hands.
The Knights announced the signing of Yorkshire bred utility back Jack Metcalf for the remainder of the 2022/23 season on Thursday 5th January. This is to ease the current injury situation and increase competition for starting places. Jack arrives in Doncaster from Championship competition, Ealing Trailfinders. Jack played last week in Cornwall.
COYK
DONNY, DONNY, DONNY…
