Post by Jamie Crawford on Dec 24, 2017 15:04:19 GMT
Fri 29-12-17 @ 19:45. Round 13.
To quote our website, “The Knights are next at home on December 29th, looking to end 2017 on a high with a derby win over County rivals Leeds Carnegie.
For the first time this season the action will take place on a Friday night, under the Castle Park lights live on Sky Sports.”
This Yorkshire derby match follows our last (South) Yorkshire derby away against closest rivals in distance Rotherham Titans. This match is the closest derby in terms of league position therefore the toughest on paper. But as we all know, the form book can be chucked out of the window in derby matches, it’s all about who wants it more and which team has done the most homework on their opposition among other things. Of course there is an element of luck involved such as a lucky bounce of the odd-shaped ball however you can also create your own luck such as knowing when to go for such a kick; so come on Knights and let’s gain the complete Yorkshire bragging rights after we won the South Yorkshire bragging rights last time out.
After the Knights battled hard to beat the Titans 19-36 we now face Carnegie. Carnegie are two places above us, they beat Nottingham 12-10 last time out but the surprise result from Saturday was the previously eleventh-placed London Scottish draw with third-placed Bedford Blues. That now raises the Scottish exiles to tenth, leapfrogging Hartpury College. The Titans now languish 19 points below Hartpury. Coventry are eagerly pushing to replace possibly the Titans as they are unbeaten, four games or thirteen league points above Darlington Mowden Park in National One.
As mentioned the Knights are sixth and Carnegie are fourth, three points above the Knights. Carnegie have won two more games, both teams have drawn one game but the Knights have won ten bonus points (7 try and 3 losing BP’s) to Carnegie’s five (all try BP’s). Scoring has been very similar after twelve games with the Knights scoring 20 more points but conceding 15 more than Carnegie.
There are no up-to-date stats at this time of year but half way through the season Carnegie Full Back Chris (Wolfe-) Elder was the equal-third top try-scorer in the Championship. Carnegie had scored four more tries than the Knights over eleven games yet they have won two fewer try bonus points. Both sides have scored an equal number of tries in the first half compared to the second but Carnegie have scored a few more after the half-time break. Carnegie had conceded three more tries over eleven games, so a similar strength in defending the try-line.
Again local derbies bring the best out of teams and these are two teams that have had a similar performance to date this season. Possibly because the teams are evenly matched; it will come down to the team that wants to win more against the team that might have begun to celebrate New Year’s Eve a little too early.
Other fixtures…
Knights can affect their league position by one place when the play Carnegie, who are three points above us.
Nottingham (5th, equal points) welcome tenth-placed London Scottish.
Cornish Pirates (7th, 2 points below) welcome Jersey Reds (9th) on 31st December.
Richmond (8th, 4 points below) must host Bristol on 30th December.
Incidentally Bedford Blues are six points above us and they serve as host to second-placed Ealing Trailfinders. (Third v second)
It’s eleventh v twelfth as Hartpury College welcome Rotherham Titans under the new Titan manager. (added - Assistant coach Nic Rouse will take temporary charge of the Titans).
COYK
DONNY, DONNY, DONNY…
HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE
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