Post by Jamie Crawford on Sept 25, 2023 13:42:46 GMT
Bristol in Premiership Cup preview
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Premiership Cup Round 4, Friday 29th September 7.30pm
The fourth game into the Premiership Cup and after 2 away games, the Knights have their second home game. We start our Premiership opposition Cup games against Bristol Bears.
Bears trio Ellis Genge, Kyle Sinckler and Max Malins are busy playing for England in the Rugby World Cup in France.
The Bears finished ninth in the Gallagher Premiership last season.
New signings this season are:
Hooker Gabriel Oghre from Bordeaux. England training squad in 2021
South African centre Benhard Janse van Rensburg signed from London Irish.
Bristol-born second-row Josh Caulfield, ex of Cornish Pirates, Exeter Chiefs and Wasps.
Argentinian back row Santiago Grondona. A 14-cap Puma, who can operate across the back row and in the second row, from French Top 14 side Pau.
Lock James DUN, returning loan from Jersey Reds
Doncaster Director of Rugby (DoR) Steve Boden (Bodes) said in the Doncaster Free Press that he thinks that most Premiership teams will play a lot of young guys until the later rounds but he would imagine that Bristol and Northampton are going to go as strong as they can against the Knights because they start their Premiership campaign a week or two later. In other words, Bodes believes that perhaps Northampton Saints and Bristol Bears are looking to raise their performances in preparation for their Premiership league campaign. Essentially as ‘pre-season’ warm-up games 2 weeks before they start their season.
The Bears had a surprise opener to their Premiership Cup campaign, losing 75-0 to Exeter. They lost again a week later 28-12 to Ealing Trailfinders. Last week they welcomed Northampton Saints to Ashton Gate Stadium. They beat the Saints by a point, 39-38
Bears tries were scored by hooker Harry Thacker, lock Josh Caulfield, wing Jack Bates, scrum half Kieran Marmion, then winger Gabriel Ibitoye scored for the Bears with 2 minutes left on the clock. The game was tied 24-25 at half time.
Although the Saints won the try-count 5-4 and 4 tries apiece were converted, the Bears won the penalty kick count 2-0.
The Knights narrowly lost 34-32 with our penalty kick falling just short in the last minute of the game. We would have won 34-35 if the kick had gone over the crossbar and between the uprights but that’s rugby! Bodes’ prediction about Premiership teams fielding stronger sides in the last fortnight before their Premiership league campaigns begin seems to have been true looking at the teams fielded by the Premiership clubs. It was a very close game against Trailfinders for the start and it was 19-18 at the break. Knights’ tries were scored by back row Seb Nagle-Taylor, back row Archie Smeaton, wing/full back Harry Davey and utility back Jack Metcalf. At least the Knights won 2 bonus points by scoring four tries and for finishing within 7 points. Ealing scored one more try, both teams converted 3 and the Knights scored 2 penalties to Trailfinders’ 1.
Pool D Premiership Cup games taking place this weekend:
Friday 29th September
Doncaster Knights v Bristol Bears
Saturday 30th September
Cambridge v Ealing Trailfinders
Pool C/D
Northampton Saints (D) v Bath Rugby (C, cross-over team)
COYK
DONNY, DONNY, DONNY…
sponsored by Twenty Four IT Services (www.twentyfourit.co.uk)
Premiership Cup Round 4, Friday 29th September 7.30pm
The fourth game into the Premiership Cup and after 2 away games, the Knights have their second home game. We start our Premiership opposition Cup games against Bristol Bears.
Bears trio Ellis Genge, Kyle Sinckler and Max Malins are busy playing for England in the Rugby World Cup in France.
The Bears finished ninth in the Gallagher Premiership last season.
New signings this season are:
Hooker Gabriel Oghre from Bordeaux. England training squad in 2021
South African centre Benhard Janse van Rensburg signed from London Irish.
Bristol-born second-row Josh Caulfield, ex of Cornish Pirates, Exeter Chiefs and Wasps.
Argentinian back row Santiago Grondona. A 14-cap Puma, who can operate across the back row and in the second row, from French Top 14 side Pau.
Lock James DUN, returning loan from Jersey Reds
Doncaster Director of Rugby (DoR) Steve Boden (Bodes) said in the Doncaster Free Press that he thinks that most Premiership teams will play a lot of young guys until the later rounds but he would imagine that Bristol and Northampton are going to go as strong as they can against the Knights because they start their Premiership campaign a week or two later. In other words, Bodes believes that perhaps Northampton Saints and Bristol Bears are looking to raise their performances in preparation for their Premiership league campaign. Essentially as ‘pre-season’ warm-up games 2 weeks before they start their season.
The Bears had a surprise opener to their Premiership Cup campaign, losing 75-0 to Exeter. They lost again a week later 28-12 to Ealing Trailfinders. Last week they welcomed Northampton Saints to Ashton Gate Stadium. They beat the Saints by a point, 39-38
Bears tries were scored by hooker Harry Thacker, lock Josh Caulfield, wing Jack Bates, scrum half Kieran Marmion, then winger Gabriel Ibitoye scored for the Bears with 2 minutes left on the clock. The game was tied 24-25 at half time.
Although the Saints won the try-count 5-4 and 4 tries apiece were converted, the Bears won the penalty kick count 2-0.
The Knights narrowly lost 34-32 with our penalty kick falling just short in the last minute of the game. We would have won 34-35 if the kick had gone over the crossbar and between the uprights but that’s rugby! Bodes’ prediction about Premiership teams fielding stronger sides in the last fortnight before their Premiership league campaigns begin seems to have been true looking at the teams fielded by the Premiership clubs. It was a very close game against Trailfinders for the start and it was 19-18 at the break. Knights’ tries were scored by back row Seb Nagle-Taylor, back row Archie Smeaton, wing/full back Harry Davey and utility back Jack Metcalf. At least the Knights won 2 bonus points by scoring four tries and for finishing within 7 points. Ealing scored one more try, both teams converted 3 and the Knights scored 2 penalties to Trailfinders’ 1.
Pool D Premiership Cup games taking place this weekend:
Friday 29th September
Doncaster Knights v Bristol Bears
Saturday 30th September
Cambridge v Ealing Trailfinders
Pool C/D
Northampton Saints (D) v Bath Rugby (C, cross-over team)
COYK
DONNY, DONNY, DONNY…
