Post by Jamie Crawford on Sept 19, 2017 13:17:05 GMT
Round Four, Castle Park Sat 23rd Sep, 2017 - 02:30pm
Last Sunday the Knights were at the losing end of a local derby. The 15-9 defeat by Carnegie was fortunately nowhere near the Knights’ 44-0 thrashing of Rotherham Titans and a losing bonus point was awarded for the Knights’ efforts against Carnegie. The game was a very tense affair, with the closing five minutes being played in the Carnegie 22m but Carnegie’s resolute defence kept the Knights from breaching their try line. The Knights had two tries not awarded as Sir judged Tyson Lewis to have been in touch and Joe Sprotson to have had the ball held up. IMHO the Knights had much possession but never looked convincing in attack. They seemed to knock on, lose the ball in the tackle or give away possession in other ways too easily. That said the Knights’ defence has been the strongest in the Championship both in terms of points and tries conceded.
Nottingham have conceded ten tries to the Knights’ four and conceded 76 points to the Knights’ 39. Both teams have won two, lost one and scored two bonus points from their opening three games played. This inevitably leaves both teams with equal league points (as have Bedford Blues). All three teams are equal third in the Championship with unbeaten Ealing Trailfinders and Bristol in first and second respectively.
According to Wikipedia Nottingham’s player movements are one of the fewest in the Championship. With just five in and ten out, the majority of the Nottingham team remain. This should engender easier cohesion of the players. The Knights effectively swap Sean Scanlon for Morgan Eames, both players will want to demonstrate to their respective clubs that they have chosen wisely.
Before playing us, Nottingham have played:
Rotherham Titans v Nottingham Rugby 10-46 WON
Nottingham Rugby v Leeds Carnegie 27-35 LOST
London Scottish v Nottingham Rugby 31-33 WON
Comparable result against the Titans except we nilled the Titans but Nottingham managed to score 27 points against that seemingly impenetrable Carnegie defence. That said, as mentioned earlier we have had the strongest defence, which leads you to question if Carnegie’s defence was impenetrable or if the Knights’ attack was inadequate and made it look better than it actually was?
Nottingham Fly-Half Tiff Eden leads the Championship in terms of points scored, with Simon Humberstone in third, twelve points behind. Green and White Hooker Ben Brownlie is the equal second highest try-scorer with four from three games; Eden himself has scored a brace the same as leading Knight try-scorer Andy Bulumakau.
Nottingham have scored 13 tries to the Knights’ 8, making them the equal second highest try-scorers in the Championship. Of these 13, 8 have been scored by Forwards. Nottingham Forwards have scored as many tries as all of the Knights and more than any other set of Forwards in the Championship. Conversely Nottingham have conceded 10 tries to the Knights’ 4; making the balance of power (or tries scored:conceded) lie with the Knights (Knights 4: 3 Nottingham).
The Knights are unbeaten at home so far on this campaign; OK it’s only one from one but…
Unfortunately Nottingham lead the away league table; they have won two from two which no other team has done yet. Unbeaten Trailfinders and Bristol have only played one home game thus far.
I know it’s only Round four but we’re still interested in the Bedford result:
Bedford (equal points) host second-placed Bristol (four points above) at Goldington Road
Incidentally Ealing Trailfinders are five points above us; they welcome eighth-placed London Scottish to Vallis Way.
We are masters of our own destiny (for a week) as we are tied with Nottingham; the winner could tie with Bristol if Bristol lose or even tie with the Trailfinders if a winning bonus point is scored and the Trailfinders lose.
There’s only the Cornish Pirates, Richmond and Rotherham Titans that wouldn’t overtake us or Nottingham if they won and either of us lost.
COYK
DONNY, DONNY, DONNY…
Last Sunday the Knights were at the losing end of a local derby. The 15-9 defeat by Carnegie was fortunately nowhere near the Knights’ 44-0 thrashing of Rotherham Titans and a losing bonus point was awarded for the Knights’ efforts against Carnegie. The game was a very tense affair, with the closing five minutes being played in the Carnegie 22m but Carnegie’s resolute defence kept the Knights from breaching their try line. The Knights had two tries not awarded as Sir judged Tyson Lewis to have been in touch and Joe Sprotson to have had the ball held up. IMHO the Knights had much possession but never looked convincing in attack. They seemed to knock on, lose the ball in the tackle or give away possession in other ways too easily. That said the Knights’ defence has been the strongest in the Championship both in terms of points and tries conceded.
Nottingham have conceded ten tries to the Knights’ four and conceded 76 points to the Knights’ 39. Both teams have won two, lost one and scored two bonus points from their opening three games played. This inevitably leaves both teams with equal league points (as have Bedford Blues). All three teams are equal third in the Championship with unbeaten Ealing Trailfinders and Bristol in first and second respectively.
According to Wikipedia Nottingham’s player movements are one of the fewest in the Championship. With just five in and ten out, the majority of the Nottingham team remain. This should engender easier cohesion of the players. The Knights effectively swap Sean Scanlon for Morgan Eames, both players will want to demonstrate to their respective clubs that they have chosen wisely.
Before playing us, Nottingham have played:
Rotherham Titans v Nottingham Rugby 10-46 WON
Nottingham Rugby v Leeds Carnegie 27-35 LOST
London Scottish v Nottingham Rugby 31-33 WON
Comparable result against the Titans except we nilled the Titans but Nottingham managed to score 27 points against that seemingly impenetrable Carnegie defence. That said, as mentioned earlier we have had the strongest defence, which leads you to question if Carnegie’s defence was impenetrable or if the Knights’ attack was inadequate and made it look better than it actually was?
Nottingham Fly-Half Tiff Eden leads the Championship in terms of points scored, with Simon Humberstone in third, twelve points behind. Green and White Hooker Ben Brownlie is the equal second highest try-scorer with four from three games; Eden himself has scored a brace the same as leading Knight try-scorer Andy Bulumakau.
Nottingham have scored 13 tries to the Knights’ 8, making them the equal second highest try-scorers in the Championship. Of these 13, 8 have been scored by Forwards. Nottingham Forwards have scored as many tries as all of the Knights and more than any other set of Forwards in the Championship. Conversely Nottingham have conceded 10 tries to the Knights’ 4; making the balance of power (or tries scored:conceded) lie with the Knights (Knights 4: 3 Nottingham).
The Knights are unbeaten at home so far on this campaign; OK it’s only one from one but…
Unfortunately Nottingham lead the away league table; they have won two from two which no other team has done yet. Unbeaten Trailfinders and Bristol have only played one home game thus far.
I know it’s only Round four but we’re still interested in the Bedford result:
Bedford (equal points) host second-placed Bristol (four points above) at Goldington Road
Incidentally Ealing Trailfinders are five points above us; they welcome eighth-placed London Scottish to Vallis Way.
We are masters of our own destiny (for a week) as we are tied with Nottingham; the winner could tie with Bristol if Bristol lose or even tie with the Trailfinders if a winning bonus point is scored and the Trailfinders lose.
There’s only the Cornish Pirates, Richmond and Rotherham Titans that wouldn’t overtake us or Nottingham if they won and either of us lost.
COYK
DONNY, DONNY, DONNY…
