Post by Jamie Crawford on Feb 27, 2023 9:41:38 GMT
Bedford Blues preview
sponsored by Twenty Four IT Services (www.twentyfourit.co.uk)
Championship Round 15, Bedford Blues v Doncaster Knights, Goldington Road, Bedford Friday 3rd March, KO 7.45pm
The Knights march down to Goldington Road in Bedford for the second consecutive game, this time Championship league games resume. Both teams have won eight and lost six games. The Blues are four points above the Knights courtesy of their 11 bonus points to the Knights’ 7. Hartpury have won and lost the same number of games but have scored six bonus points and so are one point below the Knights.
It was a nail-biting draw last Saturday at Goldington Road. The Blues scored two converted tries and looked like they were marching ahead of the Knights but an away try scored after 15 minutes made Knights’ supporters sit further back in their seats. A third Blue try after 19 minutes made it 21-7 and the bonus point fourth try followed after 32 minutes to make the score 28-7. Edge of the seat sitting again but then a converted try scored by Sam Olver from a rolling maul just into the red at half time made the scoreline 28-14. That became 28-21 after 48 minutes, then 28-28 after 59 minutes had been played. A tense last quarter ensued that saw the Blues score a converted try ten minutes later. After a further five minutes the Blues dotted down again, which was converted; 42-28. Knights’ supporters were contemplating a miserable journey home but the referee awarded the Knights a penalty try after 78 minutes and finally two minutes later, on the stroke of full time the Knights evened the score 42-42. The bonus-point draw was sufficient to win Pool B by two points over Coventry, who beat London Scottish 31-47.
Championship Cup semi-finals:
The two highest point scoring clubs play their semi-finals at home, with the top points-scorer playing the 4th, and the 2nd and 3rd ranked clubs playing one another.
Semi-finals (as identified by RFU)
· Cornish Pirates v Jersey Reds (1st v 4th place)
· Ealing Trailfinders v Doncaster Knights (2nd v 3rd place)
That decision is being appealed because the points scored were Pirates 29 (1st), Ealing 26 (2nd), Jersey 25 (3rd), Knights 23 (4th).
The semi-finals will take place over the weekend of May 5-7.
If there is a draw after 80 minutes, extra time will take place consisting of 10 minutes each way with a minute interval. If the scores remain equal after extra time, the winner will be the team which has scored the most tries in the game (including extra time). If the scores are level and the number of tries scored is equal, then there shall be a place kick competition to determine the winner.
The final of the Championship Cup takes place the weekend after the semi-finals (May 12-14) and will be played at the home ground of the club with the best playing record in the semi-finals.
The Knights came close to ending the Blues’ unbeaten home run this season, this week they need to go one better and beat the Blues.
Championship league games are:
Friday 3rd March
Bedford Blues (4, 4 points above) v Doncaster Knights (5)
Nottingham v (10) v Hartpury University (6, 1 point below us)
Saturday 4th March
Ampthill (9) v Cornish Pirates (8)
Coventry (3) v London Scottish (12)
Jersey Reds (2) v Caldy (7)
Richmond (11) v Ealing Trailfinders (1)
A Knight W would see them leapfrog Bedford, with equal league points but having won one more game.
A Knight L would see them drop to sixth if Hartpury beat or draw with Nottingham.
Fifth place is firmly within the grasp of the Knights but the Blues want to maintain their unbeaten home record and win with a bonus point. The Scottish exiles must also do them a favour by beating Coventry for the Blues to rise to fourth.
COYK
DONNY, DONNY, DONNY…
sponsored by Twenty Four IT Services (www.twentyfourit.co.uk)
Championship Round 15, Bedford Blues v Doncaster Knights, Goldington Road, Bedford Friday 3rd March, KO 7.45pm
The Knights march down to Goldington Road in Bedford for the second consecutive game, this time Championship league games resume. Both teams have won eight and lost six games. The Blues are four points above the Knights courtesy of their 11 bonus points to the Knights’ 7. Hartpury have won and lost the same number of games but have scored six bonus points and so are one point below the Knights.
It was a nail-biting draw last Saturday at Goldington Road. The Blues scored two converted tries and looked like they were marching ahead of the Knights but an away try scored after 15 minutes made Knights’ supporters sit further back in their seats. A third Blue try after 19 minutes made it 21-7 and the bonus point fourth try followed after 32 minutes to make the score 28-7. Edge of the seat sitting again but then a converted try scored by Sam Olver from a rolling maul just into the red at half time made the scoreline 28-14. That became 28-21 after 48 minutes, then 28-28 after 59 minutes had been played. A tense last quarter ensued that saw the Blues score a converted try ten minutes later. After a further five minutes the Blues dotted down again, which was converted; 42-28. Knights’ supporters were contemplating a miserable journey home but the referee awarded the Knights a penalty try after 78 minutes and finally two minutes later, on the stroke of full time the Knights evened the score 42-42. The bonus-point draw was sufficient to win Pool B by two points over Coventry, who beat London Scottish 31-47.
Championship Cup semi-finals:
The two highest point scoring clubs play their semi-finals at home, with the top points-scorer playing the 4th, and the 2nd and 3rd ranked clubs playing one another.
Semi-finals (as identified by RFU)
· Cornish Pirates v Jersey Reds (1st v 4th place)
· Ealing Trailfinders v Doncaster Knights (2nd v 3rd place)
That decision is being appealed because the points scored were Pirates 29 (1st), Ealing 26 (2nd), Jersey 25 (3rd), Knights 23 (4th).
The semi-finals will take place over the weekend of May 5-7.
If there is a draw after 80 minutes, extra time will take place consisting of 10 minutes each way with a minute interval. If the scores remain equal after extra time, the winner will be the team which has scored the most tries in the game (including extra time). If the scores are level and the number of tries scored is equal, then there shall be a place kick competition to determine the winner.
The final of the Championship Cup takes place the weekend after the semi-finals (May 12-14) and will be played at the home ground of the club with the best playing record in the semi-finals.
The Knights came close to ending the Blues’ unbeaten home run this season, this week they need to go one better and beat the Blues.
Championship league games are:
Friday 3rd March
Bedford Blues (4, 4 points above) v Doncaster Knights (5)
Nottingham v (10) v Hartpury University (6, 1 point below us)
Saturday 4th March
Ampthill (9) v Cornish Pirates (8)
Coventry (3) v London Scottish (12)
Jersey Reds (2) v Caldy (7)
Richmond (11) v Ealing Trailfinders (1)
A Knight W would see them leapfrog Bedford, with equal league points but having won one more game.
A Knight L would see them drop to sixth if Hartpury beat or draw with Nottingham.
Fifth place is firmly within the grasp of the Knights but the Blues want to maintain their unbeaten home record and win with a bonus point. The Scottish exiles must also do them a favour by beating Coventry for the Blues to rise to fourth.
COYK
DONNY, DONNY, DONNY…
