Post by Jamie Crawford on Mar 7, 2023 17:17:00 GMT
sponsored by Twenty Four IT Services (www.twentyfourit.co.uk)
Championship Round 16, Doncaster Knights v Jersey Reds, Castle Park, KO 2.30
It was a close score last October when the Reds beat the Knights 19-17 in Jersey. Red try-scorers on that occasion were Hooker Harris, Full Back Van Breda and Winger Brown. Jersey are second in the Championship, one point below Ealing Trailfinders after only losing and drawing one game. They drew a game that Trailfinders lost but Trailfinders have scored three more bonus points.
Last time out the Knights were taught a lesson, losing 48-25 to Bedford. The Reds thrashed Caldy 71-14.
Scoring stats favour the Reds, they have scored 118 more points including 27 more tries and conceded 87 fewer points including 10 tries. The game that the Reds lost was away against Ealing on Christmas Eve, 43-22. They drew 19-19 away against Coventry the next time they played.
Away v Home: the Reds have scored the second highest number of points in the Championship away from home, which is more than the Knights have scored at Castle Park. A positive is that the Knights have conceded the second fewest points at home and the Reds have conceded 55 more points away than the Knights have at home. The Reds have scored twice as many try bonus points than the Knights (12 v 6). Although the Reds are the second best travellers, the Knights have the fifth best fortress.
Jersey’s Winger Brown is the second highest try-scorer and Hooker Harris plus Centre Holgate are both equal third. Red Fly Half Russell Bennett is the sixth highest points-scorer in the Championship.
Outside Centre McHenry scored three of their eleven tries against Caldy. Neither Brown, Harris nor Holgate were playing although Holgate was a substitute.
Games taking place in the UK this weekend are:
Friday
Hartpury University (5) v Bedford Blues (4)
Saturday
Cornish |pirates (7) v Coventry (3)
Richmond (11) v Nottingham (10)
Doncaster Knights (6) v Jersey Reds (2)
Caldy (8) v Ampthill (9)
Ealing Trailfinders (1) v London Scottish (12)
Although fifth welcomes fourth, eleventh plays tenth and eighth compete against ninth, only Hartpury could leapfrog Bedford if they won with a bonus point. The other lower placed teams could not overtake the higher placed team due to the number of league points between them.
A Knight W could see them leapfrog Hartpury to fifth if they lose the evening before.
A Knight L would see them remain sixth.
There’s no pressure on losing league positions on Saturday and Jersey only beat the Knights by two points at their place; go for it Knights. We’re playing against consistently stronger opposition but we’re playing at home. Forget the scoring stats and focus on their away performance being slightly weaker. The Knights need supporters to be the sixteenth man.
Last Friday (17th) the club announced the arrival on loan of Lock Max Williamson and Back Row Rhys Tait from URC [United Rugby Championship] Glasgow Warriors. These players will increase competition for places in the team but mainly ease the comprehensive injury list.
COYK
DONNY, DONNY, DONNY…
