Post by Jamie Crawford on Feb 28, 2017 12:29:04 GMT
Sat 4th March 14:00 Richmond Athletic Ground
Our second consecutive away game sees the Knights travel to London to play London Scottish; this is because London Welsh’s collapse gave the Knights the weekend off last weekend. It also allowed fifth, sixth and seventh to catch up with the number of games played (plus first & second). Ealing Trailfinders and the bottom four teams have all played an extra game. It’s now likely to be a race between third, fourth, fifth, sixth and possibly seventh to determine the two teams in the Promotion Play-offs with London Irish and Carnegie. Eighth-placed Nottingham are six points behind seventh-placed London Scottish, so it’s highly unlikely that they will challenge for a top four (third or fourth) finish. The result of this game will effectively determine if London Scottish could mount a top-four assault or not. It would be a big ask for them to win the last four games, probably needing bonus points if they beat us but virtually impossible for them if we were to win.
Last Saturday fourth-placed Ealing Trailfinders travelled to Goldington Road to beat the ninth-placed Bedford Blues 16 - 29. That result left the Trailfinders with equal league points as us but they only have four games left to play whereas we have five.
Fifth-placed Cornish Pirates welcomed tenth-placed Rotherham Titans to The Mennaye and the Pirates beat the Titans 34 – 5. They are still fifth but just one point behind us and Ealing.
Sixth-placed Scottish and seventh-placed Jersey Reds had to play London Irish and Carnegie respectively last weekend week whilst the Knights had a break. The Scottish played the team they dub the not-nots; unbeaten London Irish are not from London and they’re not Irish! The Scottish exiles fared better than we did, losing 29 - 20 the Irish exiles to our 19-0 at their Madjeski home. The Reds inflicted Carnegie’s third defeat of the season, Carnegie left feeling red-faced at their 24 – 19 loss at St Peter’s.
To date the Knights have scored 389 points (26/match) and conceded 308 points (21/match). The Scottish have scored 362 points (24/match) and conceded 390 points (26/match). Thus far we have averaged seven points per game better than Scottish but they have the home advantage on Saturday.
Scottish’s Peter Lydon (Full Back/Fly Half) is the second highest points-scorer in the Championship, Lydon’s strike rate at home is over 77% at home, so discipline is one the orders of the day for the Knights.
David Cherry (Hooker) and Jason Harries (Centre) are equal third highest try-scorers on the list topped by Tyson Lewis. Both Cherry and Harries have scored eight tries for Scottish, the next highest Lydon, Patrick Kelly (Centre) and Joseph Atkinson (Back Row) have all scored three.
Tries aren’t predominantly scored by one or two positions, which would indicate a particular strength such as a rolling maul or quick hands to let fast wingers demonstrate their speed and agility. Try scoring seems more opportunistic and so the Knights must defend their try-line proficiently. Scottish are the sixth highest try-scorers in the Championship.
The Knights have had the strongest defence of their try-line in the Championship so far this season and long may that continue.
Other games who’s result could affect our league position:
Rotherham Titans welcome Ealing Trailfinders (=third but played an extra game) to Clifton Lane in the only other Championship game to be played on Saturday 4th March. Both teams only have two sorry three (edited) games to play in the regular season after today.
The Cornish Pirates (5th, 1 point below) lie in wait for Jersey Reds (6th, 5 points below) at the Mennaye on Sunday the result of which may give a clearer vision towards the top four finishes this season. Only the Pirates could leapfrog Ealing and us into third place if they won.
Although the result doesn’t affect the Knights, all eyes will be on the result of Carnegie v London Irish at Headingly on Sunday. Both teams are so far ahead of the chasers in the Championship that Carnegie seem to be the only team capable of beating London Irish (although the Trailfinders were close). Irish beat Carnegie at their Madjeski home but Sunday’s game is at Headingly, Carnegie’s home.
Griff said that it was great to get back to winning ways and that the boys played well after Nottingham defended resolutely for most of the game. He went as far as to say that it was one of the most outstanding away performances of his time with the Knights. Finally Griff acknowledged that sometimes people can criticise the accuracy of the team but no one can ever criticise the heart of the team. The Knights have had a fortnight to focus on preparation for the Scottish game so let’s hope that fantastic away performance continues at the RAG.
COYK
DONNY, DONNY, DONNY,…
