Post by Jamie Crawford on Jan 30, 2024 14:20:22 GMT
Cambridge preview
sponsored by Twenty Four IT Services (www.twentyfourit.co.uk)
Round 12, Saturday 3rd February, Castle Park KO 12.00 noon
Fifth-placed Doncaster Knights welcome tenth-placed Cambridge (the Blood & Sand) to Castle Park for both teams’ eleventh game. The Knights have won 6 and lost 4 of their games played, Cambridge are 2 and 8 but one of their wins was last week, so they’ll be on a high. Their other W was 2 games before Saturday and they only lost by 7 points to second-placed Cornish Pirates in the game sandwiched between their W’s. The Pirates have only lost twice this season, which would indicate that the Blood & Sand have hit a vein of form.
Last time out the Knights fought valiantly but were beaten by perennial Championship favourites Ealing Trailfinders 49-31. The HT score was 28-12, therefore the 2nd half score was 21-19, which demonstrates that the Knights were improving. The Knights managed to dot down 5 tries (3 converted), which is more than most score against Trailfinders. Unfortunately, Ealing dotted down 7 converted tries.
Cambridge recorded their 2nd win of the season 33-14 to Caldy. They also dotted down 5 tries scored by No. 8, ex- England U20s Nahum Merigan, full back Eli Caven, outside centre Sam Hanks and a brace scored by substitute hooker Morgan Venness.
Full back Eli Caven is the Championship’s equal 2nd highest try scorer, so the Knights need to be wary of him. Hooker Morgan Venness is the equal tenth highest try scorer, so another player to watch.
The Knights beat Cambridge 38 – 11 last September in the Blood & Sand’s first Championship match after being promoted from National One last season. The Knights can expect a much more difficult contest now that Cambridge are used to the standard of the Championship and especially after their form over the last 3 games.
Championship games taking place this weekend:
All on Saturday 3rd February
Ampthill (7) v Nottingham (8)
Bedford Blues (4) v Cornish Pirates (2)
Caldy (9) v Coventry (3)
Doncaster Knights (5) v Cambridge (10)
Ealing Trailfinders (1) v Hartpury University (6)
London Scottish were due to play Jersey Reds.
Coventry, the Knights, Hartpury and Cambridge have played 10 games.
Pirates, Blues, Ampthill, Nottingham, Caldy and Scottish have played 9 games.
Trailfinders have played 8 games yet are still [HASH]1 with 1 or 2 games in hand of the other teams.
A Knight W could see us rise to 3rd IF Coventry and Bedford Lose. Possibly 3rd if we win with a BP and the Pirates lose but then Bedford would go 2nd!
A Knight L would see us drop a place to 5th if Hartpury beat Trailfinders.
COYK
DONNY, DONNY, DONNY…
sponsored by Twenty Four IT Services (www.twentyfourit.co.uk)
Round 12, Saturday 3rd February, Castle Park KO 12.00 noon
Fifth-placed Doncaster Knights welcome tenth-placed Cambridge (the Blood & Sand) to Castle Park for both teams’ eleventh game. The Knights have won 6 and lost 4 of their games played, Cambridge are 2 and 8 but one of their wins was last week, so they’ll be on a high. Their other W was 2 games before Saturday and they only lost by 7 points to second-placed Cornish Pirates in the game sandwiched between their W’s. The Pirates have only lost twice this season, which would indicate that the Blood & Sand have hit a vein of form.
Last time out the Knights fought valiantly but were beaten by perennial Championship favourites Ealing Trailfinders 49-31. The HT score was 28-12, therefore the 2nd half score was 21-19, which demonstrates that the Knights were improving. The Knights managed to dot down 5 tries (3 converted), which is more than most score against Trailfinders. Unfortunately, Ealing dotted down 7 converted tries.
Cambridge recorded their 2nd win of the season 33-14 to Caldy. They also dotted down 5 tries scored by No. 8, ex- England U20s Nahum Merigan, full back Eli Caven, outside centre Sam Hanks and a brace scored by substitute hooker Morgan Venness.
Full back Eli Caven is the Championship’s equal 2nd highest try scorer, so the Knights need to be wary of him. Hooker Morgan Venness is the equal tenth highest try scorer, so another player to watch.
The Knights beat Cambridge 38 – 11 last September in the Blood & Sand’s first Championship match after being promoted from National One last season. The Knights can expect a much more difficult contest now that Cambridge are used to the standard of the Championship and especially after their form over the last 3 games.
Championship games taking place this weekend:
All on Saturday 3rd February
Ampthill (7) v Nottingham (8)
Bedford Blues (4) v Cornish Pirates (2)
Caldy (9) v Coventry (3)
Doncaster Knights (5) v Cambridge (10)
Ealing Trailfinders (1) v Hartpury University (6)
London Scottish were due to play Jersey Reds.
Coventry, the Knights, Hartpury and Cambridge have played 10 games.
Pirates, Blues, Ampthill, Nottingham, Caldy and Scottish have played 9 games.
Trailfinders have played 8 games yet are still [HASH]1 with 1 or 2 games in hand of the other teams.
A Knight W could see us rise to 3rd IF Coventry and Bedford Lose. Possibly 3rd if we win with a BP and the Pirates lose but then Bedford would go 2nd!
A Knight L would see us drop a place to 5th if Hartpury beat Trailfinders.
COYK
DONNY, DONNY, DONNY…
