Post by Jamie Crawford on Dec 18, 2023 14:45:43 GMT
Caldy preview
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Round 7, Saturday 23rd December, Paton Field, Thurstaston, Merseyside KO 2pm
Caldy have won 2 and lost 3 of their 5 games played compared to the Knights’ 5 wins and 1 loss. Caldy are starting the game off the back of a bonus-point win, dubbed by the RFU round-up as their biggest result of the campaign so far but the Knights were soundly beaten by the Edinburgh A team in a friendly.
Last time out Caldy beat an in-form Ampthill away 21-26 and scored the try bonus point after scoring 4 tries. This puts Caldy 9th in the Championship with 1 game in hand over 5 teams and 2 games in hand over 3 teams. Both Caldy and the Knights will want to end 2023 with a win.
Caldy try-scorers last Saturday were a brace scored by Nigerian prop Adam Aigbokhae and single tries scored by hooker Ollie Hearn and fly half Rhys Hayes.
Caldy hooker Matt Gallagher is the equal 3rd highest try-scorer in the Championship.
With Gallagher’s high try-scoring, Aigbokhae’ brace and Hearn’s try last Saturday; all 3 are front row forwards, so the Knights need to be wary of this.
Caldy conceded 3 tries and a losing bonus-point to Ampthill. Ampthill tries were scored by lock Moore-Aiono, right wing Elliott and flanker Pearce-Paul.
After the Knight’s weekend off league action when we should have played Jersey, we stay 2nd with a game in hand over 3rd-placed Nottingham.
However, Bedford Blues (4th) have a game in hand over us. They are 5 points behind us and have a better points difference, they have the same number of wins and losses (or will have after a win). Therefore, they would leapfrog us if they won their game.
Championship games taking place this weekend:
Saturday 23rd December
Ampthill (6) v Bedford Blues (4)
Caldy (9) v Doncaster Knights (2)
Cornish Pirates (7) v Hartpury RFC (8)
London Scottish (10) v Cambridge (11)
Tuesday 26th December
Coventry (5) v Nottingham (3)
Most teams have played 6 games. Nottingham, Hartpury and Cambridge have played 7; Bedford Blues, Cornish Pirates and Caldy have only played 5 games.
A Knight win would see us go top of the table because Ealing Trailfinders are 2 points above us and they’re not playing this weekend. Plus their game against the Cornish Pirates last weekend was abandoned after an injury to Ben Grubb. Fortunately, Ben was discharged from hospital and returned to Cornwall to continue his playing career.
A Knight defeat could see us drop to 4th if Nottingham beat Coventry and Bedford beat Ampthill with a bonus point. Bedford would then have the number of league points, wins and losses but would be above us on points scored/conceded difference.
COYK
DONNY, DONNY, DONNY…
sponsored by Twenty Four IT Services (www.twentyfourit.co.uk)
Round 7, Saturday 23rd December, Paton Field, Thurstaston, Merseyside KO 2pm
Caldy have won 2 and lost 3 of their 5 games played compared to the Knights’ 5 wins and 1 loss. Caldy are starting the game off the back of a bonus-point win, dubbed by the RFU round-up as their biggest result of the campaign so far but the Knights were soundly beaten by the Edinburgh A team in a friendly.
Last time out Caldy beat an in-form Ampthill away 21-26 and scored the try bonus point after scoring 4 tries. This puts Caldy 9th in the Championship with 1 game in hand over 5 teams and 2 games in hand over 3 teams. Both Caldy and the Knights will want to end 2023 with a win.
Caldy try-scorers last Saturday were a brace scored by Nigerian prop Adam Aigbokhae and single tries scored by hooker Ollie Hearn and fly half Rhys Hayes.
Caldy hooker Matt Gallagher is the equal 3rd highest try-scorer in the Championship.
With Gallagher’s high try-scoring, Aigbokhae’ brace and Hearn’s try last Saturday; all 3 are front row forwards, so the Knights need to be wary of this.
Caldy conceded 3 tries and a losing bonus-point to Ampthill. Ampthill tries were scored by lock Moore-Aiono, right wing Elliott and flanker Pearce-Paul.
After the Knight’s weekend off league action when we should have played Jersey, we stay 2nd with a game in hand over 3rd-placed Nottingham.
However, Bedford Blues (4th) have a game in hand over us. They are 5 points behind us and have a better points difference, they have the same number of wins and losses (or will have after a win). Therefore, they would leapfrog us if they won their game.
Championship games taking place this weekend:
Saturday 23rd December
Ampthill (6) v Bedford Blues (4)
Caldy (9) v Doncaster Knights (2)
Cornish Pirates (7) v Hartpury RFC (8)
London Scottish (10) v Cambridge (11)
Tuesday 26th December
Coventry (5) v Nottingham (3)
Most teams have played 6 games. Nottingham, Hartpury and Cambridge have played 7; Bedford Blues, Cornish Pirates and Caldy have only played 5 games.
A Knight win would see us go top of the table because Ealing Trailfinders are 2 points above us and they’re not playing this weekend. Plus their game against the Cornish Pirates last weekend was abandoned after an injury to Ben Grubb. Fortunately, Ben was discharged from hospital and returned to Cornwall to continue his playing career.
A Knight defeat could see us drop to 4th if Nottingham beat Coventry and Bedford beat Ampthill with a bonus point. Bedford would then have the number of league points, wins and losses but would be above us on points scored/conceded difference.
COYK
DONNY, DONNY, DONNY…
