Post by Jamie Crawford on May 2, 2023 16:09:49 GMT
Ealing Trailfinders Cup semi-final preview
sponsored by Twenty Four IT Services (www.twentyfourit.co.uk)
Ealing Trailfinders v Doncaster Knights in the semi-final of the Championship Cup. Trailfinders Sports Ground, Vallis Way, Ealing, KO 3pm.
The winner will play the winner of the Cornish Pirates v Jersey Reds, played the Friday evening before.
The Pirates won all six of their Championship Cup games played, both Trailfinders and the Reds won five and lost one, with Trailfinders bettering the Reds by one bonus point. The Knights won their group after winning four, one draw and one loss. This ended the Group stages:
Cornish Pirates 29 points
Ealing Trailfinders 26 points
Jersey Reds 25 points
Doncaster Knights 23 points
The Knights played Trailfinders last Saturday at Castle Park in the Championship league. Trailfinders travelled home the 14-35 winners. This Cup clash should see a stronger Knights team as Bodes (Doncaster Director of Rugby Steve Boden) rested a few players last Saturday because the result couldn’t have altered the Knights’ league position. Immediately following the game, the Knights didn’t look back at the loss but focused on the upcoming Cup game. The previous game gave the opportunity for some players to put their hands up for selection this Saturday. Obviously, Bodes, the coaching staff and the players will have reviewed the game for strengths, weaknesses, missed opportunities plus both existing and potential threats.
The result was similar to when they played Jersey Reds on 8th April, a strong performance with some great defence that lead to a close score at the break but then the better team (clearly first and second chronologically as played) pulled away in the second half.
Of course, Trailfinders might have rested some of their key players but with the strength of their squad, arguably any of the squad could make the first team at any time.
Each team’s Cup group journey:
Ealing Trailfinders
Beat Hartpury 28-38
Beat Nottingham 71-14
Lost v Jersey Reds 28-27
Beat Jersey Reds 22-13
Beat Nottingham 19-26
Beat Hartpury 64-10
Doncaster Knights
Drew 42-42 with Bedford Blues
Beat London Scottish 66-12
Lost v Coventry 42-12
Beat Bedford Blues 29-20
Beat London Scottish 12-24
Beat Coventry 22-7
To be jestingly superstitious; the game is being played on the same day as the Coronation of King Charles and Kings and Queens lived in Castles with Medieval Knights from about 1066 until the mid to late 16th century. Therefore, the Knights from Castle Park will have the King’s favour.
Or perhaps that’s a stretch!
Next season the Championship Cup will be replaced by the Premiership Cup, which will include Championship teams.
The competition kicks off on September 8, 2023. The pool stages will take place over five consecutive weekends from the weekends of 8-10 September to 6-8 October with the semi-finals held over 9-11 February and the final over the weekend of 15-17 March.
The 24 teams will be split into four pools of six – based on league standings at the end of the current 2022/23 season. It is intended that the different format will develop and enthuse the players by bringing the experience of playing Premiership sides. Plus, it will give the opportunity to welcome new fans into our clubs and increase the number of spectators. This will hopefully persist to increase each club’s supporter-base as new spectators should be stimulated to come and will hopefully enjoy the experience sufficiently to attend future Championship matches.
COYK
DONNY, DONNY, DONNY…
sponsored by Twenty Four IT Services (www.twentyfourit.co.uk)
Ealing Trailfinders v Doncaster Knights in the semi-final of the Championship Cup. Trailfinders Sports Ground, Vallis Way, Ealing, KO 3pm.
The winner will play the winner of the Cornish Pirates v Jersey Reds, played the Friday evening before.
The Pirates won all six of their Championship Cup games played, both Trailfinders and the Reds won five and lost one, with Trailfinders bettering the Reds by one bonus point. The Knights won their group after winning four, one draw and one loss. This ended the Group stages:
Cornish Pirates 29 points
Ealing Trailfinders 26 points
Jersey Reds 25 points
Doncaster Knights 23 points
The Knights played Trailfinders last Saturday at Castle Park in the Championship league. Trailfinders travelled home the 14-35 winners. This Cup clash should see a stronger Knights team as Bodes (Doncaster Director of Rugby Steve Boden) rested a few players last Saturday because the result couldn’t have altered the Knights’ league position. Immediately following the game, the Knights didn’t look back at the loss but focused on the upcoming Cup game. The previous game gave the opportunity for some players to put their hands up for selection this Saturday. Obviously, Bodes, the coaching staff and the players will have reviewed the game for strengths, weaknesses, missed opportunities plus both existing and potential threats.
The result was similar to when they played Jersey Reds on 8th April, a strong performance with some great defence that lead to a close score at the break but then the better team (clearly first and second chronologically as played) pulled away in the second half.
Of course, Trailfinders might have rested some of their key players but with the strength of their squad, arguably any of the squad could make the first team at any time.
Each team’s Cup group journey:
Ealing Trailfinders
Beat Hartpury 28-38
Beat Nottingham 71-14
Lost v Jersey Reds 28-27
Beat Jersey Reds 22-13
Beat Nottingham 19-26
Beat Hartpury 64-10
Doncaster Knights
Drew 42-42 with Bedford Blues
Beat London Scottish 66-12
Lost v Coventry 42-12
Beat Bedford Blues 29-20
Beat London Scottish 12-24
Beat Coventry 22-7
To be jestingly superstitious; the game is being played on the same day as the Coronation of King Charles and Kings and Queens lived in Castles with Medieval Knights from about 1066 until the mid to late 16th century. Therefore, the Knights from Castle Park will have the King’s favour.
Or perhaps that’s a stretch!
Next season the Championship Cup will be replaced by the Premiership Cup, which will include Championship teams.
The competition kicks off on September 8, 2023. The pool stages will take place over five consecutive weekends from the weekends of 8-10 September to 6-8 October with the semi-finals held over 9-11 February and the final over the weekend of 15-17 March.
The 24 teams will be split into four pools of six – based on league standings at the end of the current 2022/23 season. It is intended that the different format will develop and enthuse the players by bringing the experience of playing Premiership sides. Plus, it will give the opportunity to welcome new fans into our clubs and increase the number of spectators. This will hopefully persist to increase each club’s supporter-base as new spectators should be stimulated to come and will hopefully enjoy the experience sufficiently to attend future Championship matches.
COYK
DONNY, DONNY, DONNY…
