Post by Jamie Crawford on Sept 16, 2024 10:28:23 GMT
Ampthill preview
sponsored by Twenty Four IT Services (www.twentyfourit.co.uk)
Round 1, Doncaster Knights v Ampthill
Saturday 21st September, Castle Park, KO 2.30pm.
The Knights had a successful pre-season session and game against Bury St Edmunds which took place between the 4th and 7th of September. The Knights' initial training camp at Bury St. Edmunds was primarily a physical and team-building exercise then a skill-based rugby session followed with Sale Sharks. This second training camp with a Premiership team would further enhance all the skills and camaraderie built in the initial training session. A pre-season friendly against Bristol Bears was then played behind closed doors and the Knights won 14-33 despite trailing 14-0 at half time. Resolute defence was the primary take-away from the first half, followed by attacking prowess in the second. Overall, a great end to pre-season with lessons learned. Bring on Ampthill.
The season commences with a home game against last year’s seventh-placed Ampthill. The Knights finished one place above in sixth despite being fully professional, Ampthill Head Coach Paul Turner is a canny coach. However, the Knights’ season was greatly disrupted with the departure of Director of Rugby Steve Boden.
The Knights won an extra game than Ampthill, plus drew one that Ampthill lost, so the Knights lost two less games than Ampthill yet ended only one league point higher. That was courtesy of the five extra try bonus points that Ampthill won that the Knights didn’t. In fact, last season’s seventh-placed Ampthill scored 14 try bonus points, the third highest in the division. Only Coventry and Ealing Trailfinders scored more. Brandon Jackson (Brandon Jackson-Richards) was Ampthill’s leading try-scorer, I believe that he is/was dual registered with Saracens.
Ampthill’s only pre-season friendly was against Nottingham on 7th September at Nottingham’s The Bay, Nottingham won a close game 27-21. It was a game of contrasting styles with The Archers looking to play expansive rugby whereas Ampthill preferred to repeatedly drive into contact. The Mob were reduced to 13 men late in the game but The Archers left it with less than five minutes to go before making their numerical advantage count by scoring after they stole a lineout on their own 22 and passed the ball to each side before dotting down under the posts.
Ampthill New signings:
Richard “Baz” Barrington - loosehead prop from Agen after nine seasons with Saracens has joined the Mob as player-coach.
Rhys Marshall - hooker from Taranaki, New Zealand, ex-NZ U20’S.
Jordan Liney - hooker from RGC via Bristol Bears, ex-Wales at U16, U18 and U20s.
Noah Fawcett - hooker/loose-head prop. last year’s Academy Captain.
Iwan Shenton - back row on loan from Scarlets.
Vereimi Qorowale – wing from Newcastle Falcons, played for the Knights on loan.
Lekima Ravuvu – No. 8 from Worcester Warriors.
Aiden King – lock from Eastwood Rugby Club, Australia.
Karl Main - Scottish flanker.
Departures:
Josh Smart to Blackheath.
Morgan Strong to Doncaster Knights.
Ben Chapman to Doncaster Knights.
Oli Morris to Coventry.
Gwyn Parks to Nottingham.
Iestyn Rees to Cambridge.
Pete White to Cambridge.
Josh Skelcey to Cambridge.
Zac Nearchou to Cambridge.
Notably ex-England scrumhalf Kyran Bracken’s son Charlie Bracken and ex-Knight Jack Spittle haven’t left the club.
Welcome to the Knights’ new Signings for 2024/25
Joe Jones – tight head prop from Scarlets.
Jordan Olowofela – wing/centre from Nottingham.
Fred Davies – hooker from Bristol Bears.
Morgan Bunting – fly half from Nottingham.
Thom Smith – back row unattached.
George Wacokecoke – wing/centre from Newcastle Falcons.
Cory Teague – lock from Exeter Chiefs.
Zach Kerr – wing/centre from Newcastle Falcons.
Jasper McGuire – loose head prop from Saracens.
Logovi’i Mulipola – tight head prop from Saracens.
Morgan Strong – back row from Ampthill.
Ben Chapman – hooker from Ampthill.
Taniela Ramasibana – lock/back row from Perpignan.
Josh Williams – lock from Cornish Pirates.
Andrew Turner – loose head prop from Bristol Bears (season-long loan).
Semesa Rokoduguni – wing from Montauban.
Arthur Green – back row from Bath (season-long loan).
Will Parry – centre from Bath (season-long loan).
Telusa Veainu – full back from Sale Sharks.
All games taking place across our green and pleasant land:
Friday 20th September
London Scottish v Coventry
Nottingham v Cornish Pirates
Saturday 21st September
Doncaster Knights v Ampthill
Bedford Blues v Caldy
Cambridge v Chinnor
Ealing Trailfinders v Hartpury
Next up for Ampthill, newly promoted Chinnor visit The Olney Field for the first time since 2019.
The Knights have another home fixture when they welcome Nottingham Rugby to Castle Park.
Finally congratulations to Ben Murphy for being chosen to be Doncaster Knights’ Club Captain this season.
COYK
DONNY, DONNY, DONNY…
sponsored by Twenty Four IT Services (www.twentyfourit.co.uk)
Round 1, Doncaster Knights v Ampthill
Saturday 21st September, Castle Park, KO 2.30pm.
The Knights had a successful pre-season session and game against Bury St Edmunds which took place between the 4th and 7th of September. The Knights' initial training camp at Bury St. Edmunds was primarily a physical and team-building exercise then a skill-based rugby session followed with Sale Sharks. This second training camp with a Premiership team would further enhance all the skills and camaraderie built in the initial training session. A pre-season friendly against Bristol Bears was then played behind closed doors and the Knights won 14-33 despite trailing 14-0 at half time. Resolute defence was the primary take-away from the first half, followed by attacking prowess in the second. Overall, a great end to pre-season with lessons learned. Bring on Ampthill.
The season commences with a home game against last year’s seventh-placed Ampthill. The Knights finished one place above in sixth despite being fully professional, Ampthill Head Coach Paul Turner is a canny coach. However, the Knights’ season was greatly disrupted with the departure of Director of Rugby Steve Boden.
The Knights won an extra game than Ampthill, plus drew one that Ampthill lost, so the Knights lost two less games than Ampthill yet ended only one league point higher. That was courtesy of the five extra try bonus points that Ampthill won that the Knights didn’t. In fact, last season’s seventh-placed Ampthill scored 14 try bonus points, the third highest in the division. Only Coventry and Ealing Trailfinders scored more. Brandon Jackson (Brandon Jackson-Richards) was Ampthill’s leading try-scorer, I believe that he is/was dual registered with Saracens.
Ampthill’s only pre-season friendly was against Nottingham on 7th September at Nottingham’s The Bay, Nottingham won a close game 27-21. It was a game of contrasting styles with The Archers looking to play expansive rugby whereas Ampthill preferred to repeatedly drive into contact. The Mob were reduced to 13 men late in the game but The Archers left it with less than five minutes to go before making their numerical advantage count by scoring after they stole a lineout on their own 22 and passed the ball to each side before dotting down under the posts.
Ampthill New signings:
Richard “Baz” Barrington - loosehead prop from Agen after nine seasons with Saracens has joined the Mob as player-coach.
Rhys Marshall - hooker from Taranaki, New Zealand, ex-NZ U20’S.
Jordan Liney - hooker from RGC via Bristol Bears, ex-Wales at U16, U18 and U20s.
Noah Fawcett - hooker/loose-head prop. last year’s Academy Captain.
Iwan Shenton - back row on loan from Scarlets.
Vereimi Qorowale – wing from Newcastle Falcons, played for the Knights on loan.
Lekima Ravuvu – No. 8 from Worcester Warriors.
Aiden King – lock from Eastwood Rugby Club, Australia.
Karl Main - Scottish flanker.
Departures:
Josh Smart to Blackheath.
Morgan Strong to Doncaster Knights.
Ben Chapman to Doncaster Knights.
Oli Morris to Coventry.
Gwyn Parks to Nottingham.
Iestyn Rees to Cambridge.
Pete White to Cambridge.
Josh Skelcey to Cambridge.
Zac Nearchou to Cambridge.
Notably ex-England scrumhalf Kyran Bracken’s son Charlie Bracken and ex-Knight Jack Spittle haven’t left the club.
Welcome to the Knights’ new Signings for 2024/25
Joe Jones – tight head prop from Scarlets.
Jordan Olowofela – wing/centre from Nottingham.
Fred Davies – hooker from Bristol Bears.
Morgan Bunting – fly half from Nottingham.
Thom Smith – back row unattached.
George Wacokecoke – wing/centre from Newcastle Falcons.
Cory Teague – lock from Exeter Chiefs.
Zach Kerr – wing/centre from Newcastle Falcons.
Jasper McGuire – loose head prop from Saracens.
Logovi’i Mulipola – tight head prop from Saracens.
Morgan Strong – back row from Ampthill.
Ben Chapman – hooker from Ampthill.
Taniela Ramasibana – lock/back row from Perpignan.
Josh Williams – lock from Cornish Pirates.
Andrew Turner – loose head prop from Bristol Bears (season-long loan).
Semesa Rokoduguni – wing from Montauban.
Arthur Green – back row from Bath (season-long loan).
Will Parry – centre from Bath (season-long loan).
Telusa Veainu – full back from Sale Sharks.
All games taking place across our green and pleasant land:
Friday 20th September
London Scottish v Coventry
Nottingham v Cornish Pirates
Saturday 21st September
Doncaster Knights v Ampthill
Bedford Blues v Caldy
Cambridge v Chinnor
Ealing Trailfinders v Hartpury
Next up for Ampthill, newly promoted Chinnor visit The Olney Field for the first time since 2019.
The Knights have another home fixture when they welcome Nottingham Rugby to Castle Park.
Finally congratulations to Ben Murphy for being chosen to be Doncaster Knights’ Club Captain this season.
COYK
DONNY, DONNY, DONNY…
