Post by Jamie Crawford on Jan 31, 2017 17:39:50 GMT
Castle Park KO 2.30pm
After our fantastic five-point win against Bedford Blues at Goldington Lane and Ealing Trailfinders’ loss to London Irish, we find ourselves still third in the Championship with Ealing trailing eight points behind us. Trailfinders pushed London Irish the closest they’ve been to a draw or loss this season. Irish only managing to win by one point but Trailfinders only gained one losing bonus point for their efforts.
In getting to third and fourth places, the Knights have scored 339 points (26/match) and conceded 272 points (21/match). Trailfinders have scored 297 points (23/match) and conceded 284 points (22/match).
According to Statbunker the Knights are the second highest try-scorers in the Championship after scoring 47 tries. Carnegie are third having scored 44 tries (but they’ve got a game in hand), no prizes for guessing who has scored the most! Ealing are seventh after scoring 36 tries.
The Knights tie in first place with the Irish exiles as having the strongest defence and conceding the fewest tries, with 31. Trailfinders are third after conceding a couple more. So Trailfinders’ defence is stronger than their attack compared to other teams in the Championship.
Fly-half, centre, fullback Aaron Penberthy is the equal-seventh top points-scorer in the Championship, he has a strike-rate of 77%. This is slightly better than Dougie’s 76% (rounded up and down). Penberthy has scored the third highest number of conversions, which might indicate that let’s say he attempts penalty kicks that push the limit of his range.
Trailfinder's wing Curtis Wilson is the Championship’s equal-sixth top try-scorer. Centre Aled Jenkins has only scored one fewer.
Our league position can’t alter in one game as Carnegie are eleven points above us and the Trailfinders are eight points below. The Scottish exiles are nine points below but they have a game in hand. For interest Scottish travel to Cornwall on Sunday to play the Pirates (6th, 1 point below them) at The Mennaye in a game who’s conclusion will decide fifth and sixth positions.
The result of today’s game will decide if Ealing will possibly be within a game of going above us or two bonus point games away as an absolute minimum, more likely three games away.
Richmond are ten points below second-bottom Rotherham Titans courtesy of two wins plus one draw. The pressure is off Richmond following the unfortunate demise of London Welsh, the RFU have decreed that there will be no relegation this season. It looks likely that Hartpury College will rise from National One to the Championship as they are nbeaten after twenty games. Amthill in second have to score 28 points without Hartpury scoring any to overtake them with only ten games to play.
COYK
DONNY, DONNY, DONNY...
