Post by Jamie Crawford on Jan 24, 2023 17:02:24 GMT
Doncaster Knights v Nottingham rugby
sponsored by Twenty Four IT Services (www.twentyfourit.co.uk)
Round 14, Saturday 28th January, Castle Park, KO 2.30pm
Nottingham comfortably beat the Knights 30-15 on 30th September last year, so the Knights will want to avenge that defeat in their own Castle (Park). The Knights had their first win of 2023 last Saturday at Richmond’s Athletic Ground and will use that to start their positive momentum going forward. The game demonstrated Forward dominance in the scrum and lineouts that were strategic for most of the encounter. This Forward dominance won the ball for the Backs to allow them to score three tries.
First a short pop-pass from Scrum Half Alex Dolly at the breakdown released Full Back Jack Metcalf through a gap for an easy run-in. Then a collective Forward effort caused Richmond to repeatedly infringe on their own try line which led to a yellow card and a penalty try being awarded. Finally, with two minutes to go, Fly Half Connor Edwards received a good pass and jinked a defender to force his way over for the try.
Nottingham lost 17-29 to Caldy the evening before but still managed to score three tries through Left Wing Taiye Olowofela, Right Wing David Williams and substitute Centre Michael Green.
Fifth-placed Knights have only scored 26 more points than ninth-placed Nottingham over 13 games (two/game) and conceded 40 fewer points (just over three/game). Of these points, the Knights have scored three more tries and conceded seven fewer, so very similar scoring stats. Another point to be wary of is that although Nottingham are ninth in the division, they have scored the fifth highest number of points away from home, 34 more than the Knights have scored away from home. They have also conceded 14 fewer points away than the Knights have away. Together with Nottingham’s extra try bonus point, their away form is something to be watchful of.
Previous number one points-scorer Green and White Fly Half Sam Hollingsworth is now the Championship’s seventh highest. Notably Hollingsworth either hasn’t played or been a substitute at least in their last five losses.
Nottingham Scrum Half/Wing Harry Graham and Full Back Olowofela are the Championship’s equal-sixth top try scorers.
All Championship are games are taking place on Saturday 28th January:
Caldy (8) v Bedford Blues (4)
Cornish Pirates (7) v Jersey Reds (2)
Knights (5) v Nottingham (9, game in hand, ten points below us)
Hartpury (6) v Richmond (10)
Ealing Trailfinders (1) v Coventry (3, game in hand)
London Scottish (12) v Ampthill (11, eighteen points below us with 2 games in hand)
Bottom plays second bottom but Ampthill can’t be overtaken in one game. The Scottish exiles lost by two points last week against second-placed Jersey Reds and a single point in their previous two games. However, they have six bonus points to bolster their single victory.
A Knight W is needed to prevent the Blues from getting too far above us in fourth. Unfortunately, it won’t affect our fifth place.
Knight L would only drop us to sixth if (probably when) Hartpury beat Richmond.
Three Championship Cup games follow this league game.
COYK
DONNY, DONNY, DONNY…
sponsored by Twenty Four IT Services (www.twentyfourit.co.uk)
Round 14, Saturday 28th January, Castle Park, KO 2.30pm
Nottingham comfortably beat the Knights 30-15 on 30th September last year, so the Knights will want to avenge that defeat in their own Castle (Park). The Knights had their first win of 2023 last Saturday at Richmond’s Athletic Ground and will use that to start their positive momentum going forward. The game demonstrated Forward dominance in the scrum and lineouts that were strategic for most of the encounter. This Forward dominance won the ball for the Backs to allow them to score three tries.
First a short pop-pass from Scrum Half Alex Dolly at the breakdown released Full Back Jack Metcalf through a gap for an easy run-in. Then a collective Forward effort caused Richmond to repeatedly infringe on their own try line which led to a yellow card and a penalty try being awarded. Finally, with two minutes to go, Fly Half Connor Edwards received a good pass and jinked a defender to force his way over for the try.
Nottingham lost 17-29 to Caldy the evening before but still managed to score three tries through Left Wing Taiye Olowofela, Right Wing David Williams and substitute Centre Michael Green.
Fifth-placed Knights have only scored 26 more points than ninth-placed Nottingham over 13 games (two/game) and conceded 40 fewer points (just over three/game). Of these points, the Knights have scored three more tries and conceded seven fewer, so very similar scoring stats. Another point to be wary of is that although Nottingham are ninth in the division, they have scored the fifth highest number of points away from home, 34 more than the Knights have scored away from home. They have also conceded 14 fewer points away than the Knights have away. Together with Nottingham’s extra try bonus point, their away form is something to be watchful of.
Previous number one points-scorer Green and White Fly Half Sam Hollingsworth is now the Championship’s seventh highest. Notably Hollingsworth either hasn’t played or been a substitute at least in their last five losses.
Nottingham Scrum Half/Wing Harry Graham and Full Back Olowofela are the Championship’s equal-sixth top try scorers.
All Championship are games are taking place on Saturday 28th January:
Caldy (8) v Bedford Blues (4)
Cornish Pirates (7) v Jersey Reds (2)
Knights (5) v Nottingham (9, game in hand, ten points below us)
Hartpury (6) v Richmond (10)
Ealing Trailfinders (1) v Coventry (3, game in hand)
London Scottish (12) v Ampthill (11, eighteen points below us with 2 games in hand)
Bottom plays second bottom but Ampthill can’t be overtaken in one game. The Scottish exiles lost by two points last week against second-placed Jersey Reds and a single point in their previous two games. However, they have six bonus points to bolster their single victory.
A Knight W is needed to prevent the Blues from getting too far above us in fourth. Unfortunately, it won’t affect our fifth place.
Knight L would only drop us to sixth if (probably when) Hartpury beat Richmond.
Three Championship Cup games follow this league game.
COYK
DONNY, DONNY, DONNY…
