Post by Jamie Crawford on Feb 5, 2024 10:54:27 GMT
Nottingham preview (UPDATED 11/02/24)
sponsored by Twenty Four IT Services (www.twentyfourit.co.uk)
Round 13, Friday 23rd February, KO 7.45pm
Round 13 sees seventh-placed Nottingham play their eleventh game when they welcome fourth-placed Doncaster Knights to Lady Bay for their twelfth game of the season.
On Monday 8th May Nottingham Rugby Club had the unenviable task of asking for extra financial help after Lady Bay was totally under water. Unfortunately, Lady Bay is on a flood plain and so not covered by their insurance.
Happily, 18 days later, on Friday 26th January Nottingham welcomed the British army. A dominant nine try performance saw Nottingham triumph 57-10 in their first home game since December 1st. The Army stepped in to replace the Jersey Reds fixture. Their previous home fixture v the Scottish exiles on Friday 12th January was obviously postponed after Lady Bay looked like a bay.
On Sunday 4th February Nottingham scored a try bonus point away at Dillingham Park against Ampthill in their 36-43 win. The game was a try-fest with both teams scoring six tries, the difference being 3 converted tries for Ampthill to 5 plus a conversion for Nottingham. The Green and White try-scorers were wing Harry Graham, prop Archie Van der Flier, wing Jack Stapley (2), scrum half Michael Stronge and hooker Harry Clayton.
On Friday 9th February the Archers welcomed Leicester Tigers to the Bay for a friendly, Nottingham beat a young Leicester side 27-0. Green & White tries were scored by hooker Jack Dickinson, who dove over the line from a driving maul. Next Harry Graham scored the second try by quickly breaking through the defensive line and beating the last defender with a chip over his head. The last 15 minutes saw Nottingham keep scoring, first several Nottingham players broke through the Tigers defensive line and a couple of offloads later, lock Jack Shine was able to get over the line. Soon after, Harry Graham found space up the left hand side and just before he was pushed into touch, offloaded it to full back/centre Jordan Olowofela who was able to finish for the fourth try of the game. The final try was scored when winger Michael Green broke through the line and offloaded it to wing Jacob Wright who passed the ball back out to Green. He beat the retreating defence to dot down. With a score of 27, after 5 tries have been scored, we can conclude that only one was converted and there were no penalties.
Obviously, that means the Knights have had 3 weeks without playing competitive rugby compared to the Archers fortnight.
On Saturday 3rd February the Knights welcomed Cambridge to Castle Park and won 29-19. It was 26-19 at the break, so only 3 points were scored in the second half. Fortunately, the Knights scored 4 tries to get the try bonus point. This was enough to elevate them into 3rd place, one point above Coventry after they lost 26-22 at Paton Field against Caldy. Knight try scorers were fly half Billy McBride, prop Conor Davidson, wing Jack Metcalf and centre Joe Bedlow.
Players to watch out for are Nottingham wingers David Williams who has scored 8 tries, making him the Championship’s equal-second top try scorer and Marcus Ramage, who has scored 7 tries and is equal-seventh.
ADDED 13/02/24: Nottingham have scored the highest number of points away from home in the Championship, 63 more points away than Trailfinders or 37 more points than the Knights have scored at Castle Park.
The only positive is that they have also conceded the most points away from home, in fact 33 more points than they have scored away.
That might indicate a more attacking style of rugby away from home when more tries are likely to be scored but conversely it may leave your defence weaker to conceding more tries.
Championship games taking place this weekend:
Friday 23rd February
Nottingham (7) v Doncaster Knights (4)
Saturday 24th February
Cambridge (10) v Ealing Trailfinders (1)
Coventry (5) v Ampthill (8)
Hartpury University (6) v Bedford Blues (3)
London Scottish (11) v Caldy (9)
Cornish Pirates (2) were due to play Jersey Reds.
Cov are one point below us and have played the same number of games.
The Pirates, the Blues, the Knights, Cov, Hartpury, Caldy and Cambridge have played 11 games. However the Pirates will have a game in hand.
Trailfinders, Nottingham, Ampthill and have played 10 games.
Scottish has played 9 games.
A Knight W would see us go second if Hartpury beat Bedford because 2nd-placed Pirates aren’t playing.
A Knight L would see us go fifth if Ampthill lose to Cov.
COYK
DONNY, DONNY, DONNY…
sponsored by Twenty Four IT Services (www.twentyfourit.co.uk)
Round 13, Friday 23rd February, KO 7.45pm
Round 13 sees seventh-placed Nottingham play their eleventh game when they welcome fourth-placed Doncaster Knights to Lady Bay for their twelfth game of the season.
On Monday 8th May Nottingham Rugby Club had the unenviable task of asking for extra financial help after Lady Bay was totally under water. Unfortunately, Lady Bay is on a flood plain and so not covered by their insurance.
Happily, 18 days later, on Friday 26th January Nottingham welcomed the British army. A dominant nine try performance saw Nottingham triumph 57-10 in their first home game since December 1st. The Army stepped in to replace the Jersey Reds fixture. Their previous home fixture v the Scottish exiles on Friday 12th January was obviously postponed after Lady Bay looked like a bay.
On Sunday 4th February Nottingham scored a try bonus point away at Dillingham Park against Ampthill in their 36-43 win. The game was a try-fest with both teams scoring six tries, the difference being 3 converted tries for Ampthill to 5 plus a conversion for Nottingham. The Green and White try-scorers were wing Harry Graham, prop Archie Van der Flier, wing Jack Stapley (2), scrum half Michael Stronge and hooker Harry Clayton.
On Friday 9th February the Archers welcomed Leicester Tigers to the Bay for a friendly, Nottingham beat a young Leicester side 27-0. Green & White tries were scored by hooker Jack Dickinson, who dove over the line from a driving maul. Next Harry Graham scored the second try by quickly breaking through the defensive line and beating the last defender with a chip over his head. The last 15 minutes saw Nottingham keep scoring, first several Nottingham players broke through the Tigers defensive line and a couple of offloads later, lock Jack Shine was able to get over the line. Soon after, Harry Graham found space up the left hand side and just before he was pushed into touch, offloaded it to full back/centre Jordan Olowofela who was able to finish for the fourth try of the game. The final try was scored when winger Michael Green broke through the line and offloaded it to wing Jacob Wright who passed the ball back out to Green. He beat the retreating defence to dot down. With a score of 27, after 5 tries have been scored, we can conclude that only one was converted and there were no penalties.
Obviously, that means the Knights have had 3 weeks without playing competitive rugby compared to the Archers fortnight.
On Saturday 3rd February the Knights welcomed Cambridge to Castle Park and won 29-19. It was 26-19 at the break, so only 3 points were scored in the second half. Fortunately, the Knights scored 4 tries to get the try bonus point. This was enough to elevate them into 3rd place, one point above Coventry after they lost 26-22 at Paton Field against Caldy. Knight try scorers were fly half Billy McBride, prop Conor Davidson, wing Jack Metcalf and centre Joe Bedlow.
Players to watch out for are Nottingham wingers David Williams who has scored 8 tries, making him the Championship’s equal-second top try scorer and Marcus Ramage, who has scored 7 tries and is equal-seventh.
ADDED 13/02/24: Nottingham have scored the highest number of points away from home in the Championship, 63 more points away than Trailfinders or 37 more points than the Knights have scored at Castle Park.
The only positive is that they have also conceded the most points away from home, in fact 33 more points than they have scored away.
That might indicate a more attacking style of rugby away from home when more tries are likely to be scored but conversely it may leave your defence weaker to conceding more tries.
Championship games taking place this weekend:
Friday 23rd February
Nottingham (7) v Doncaster Knights (4)
Saturday 24th February
Cambridge (10) v Ealing Trailfinders (1)
Coventry (5) v Ampthill (8)
Hartpury University (6) v Bedford Blues (3)
London Scottish (11) v Caldy (9)
Cornish Pirates (2) were due to play Jersey Reds.
Cov are one point below us and have played the same number of games.
The Pirates, the Blues, the Knights, Cov, Hartpury, Caldy and Cambridge have played 11 games. However the Pirates will have a game in hand.
Trailfinders, Nottingham, Ampthill and have played 10 games.
Scottish has played 9 games.
A Knight W would see us go second if Hartpury beat Bedford because 2nd-placed Pirates aren’t playing.
A Knight L would see us go fifth if Ampthill lose to Cov.
COYK
DONNY, DONNY, DONNY…
