Post by Jamie Crawford on Mar 1, 2016 16:53:08 GMT
For the second week in a row the Knights are away from home as we travel to the Capital to play the Scottish exiles. Not as far this time after we played very well to beat the Pirates 19-26 at the Mennaye in Cornwall. That result consolidated second place more firmly for us putting nine points between us and Bedford Blues and Carnegie. Bristol also beat Carnegie to stay out of reach ten points above.
Most importantly we are eighteen points above Nottingham in fifth with five games to go.
London Scottish are eighth in the Championship, just one point behind the other exiles; London Welsh. The Pirates’ losing bonus point gained against us puts them one point behind Scottish in ninth. Our neighbours the Titans can breathe more easily after they beat Bedford 39-31 last Saturday. The Titans are tenth but nine points (and three wins) above bottom-placed Moseley with five games left. It looks like Ealing Trailfinders in eleventh and Moseley will be fighting it out to see who stays up. After trailfinders beat Moseley 55-15 they are two league points above but that result will also have given Trailfinders renewed confidence and left Moseley feeling a bit Bedford (Blue!)
The Knights have won twelve, drawn two and lost three of their seventeen Championship games played, Scottish have won eight and lost nine of theirs. The Knights have scored 458 points (27 points/game) and conceded 355 points (21 points/game). Scottish have scored 310 points (18 points/game) and conceded 348 points (20 points/game). This leaves a net points difference of six scored/game for the Knights and two points/game conceded for Scottish or eight points/game in the Knights’ favour.
On their journeys the Knights have scored 51 tries (fourth best) and Scottish have scored 41 (ninth). The Knights have conceded 43 tries (fourth fewest) and Scottish have conceded 38 (best in the Championship). Scottish away tries have been scored principally by the backs with the Wings and Full Back taking equal honours. The well-known New Zealand Back Row and Captain Mark Bright is their leading try-scorer. Bright is equal fourth in the list of Championship top try-scorers this season, equal with our own Ollie Steadman and Carnegie’s Josh Bainbridge. Bright was named in the Championship Dream XV in the 2012/13 and 2013/14 seasons
Eleswhere
Friday
Nottingham welcome Jersey to Lady Bay in a game that sees fifth play sixth. With just two points separating them the winner will stay or go fifth.
Saturday
Moseley (12) welcome Carnegie (4) to Billesley Common
Bedford Blues (3) host Ealing Trailfinders (11)
London Welsh (7) await Rotherham Titans (10). Five points separate the teams
Sunday
Bristol (1) welcome the Cornish Pirates (9)
The Knights are nine points above third-placed Bedford Blues and Carnegie plus two and three wins respectively. Carnegie play bottom-placed Moseley and the Blues playing eleventh-placed Ealing Trailfinders. Will the gap be reduced to perhaps just four points or can the Knights keep their form and root themselves to that second spot?
If Nottingham lose to Jersey on Friday and we beat the Scottish on Saturday I believe that we would be guaranteed a Promotion Play-Off place. If so the portly lady can start singing.
COYK
DONNY, DONNY, DONNY…