Post by Jamie Crawford on Mar 14, 2018 16:00:38 GMT
It is a particularly poignant first home game for the Knights after sadly losing teammate Ian Williams as they welcome one of the teams that Ian used to play for. The rugby community have been exceptionally respectful in honouring Ian’s loss. Doncaster have retired the No3 jersey for the rest of the season and are planning a tribute for Ian at this game. The player’s shirts will have IW on them for the rest of the season. Big, intelligent, fun-loving Ian will never be forgotten.
Kendo mentioned that game day was all about Ian’s family and on the pitch they have to get the job done. They owe Richmond from that defeat last November.
Richmond ended 26-22 winners after the Knights scored four tries to Richmond’s two. A lack of discipline caused the defeat after Richmond scored four penalty kicks.
After narrowly losing 22-19 to the Cornish Pirates last time out, the fifth-placed Knights (RFU & Statbunker) aim to return to winning ways when they welcome tenth-placed Richmond to Castle Park. It was a crushing defeat to the Pirates after leading for eighty minutes but then a converted try in the eightieth minute turned victory into defeat for the Knights. In the end it was the penalty kick scored by the Pirates that was the difference between the two teams.
There are four league positions or fourteen league points between Richmond and the Knights but the Knights have recorded just one more win. Eight of those points are bonus points scored by the Knights. Both teams have a very similar points conceded of 435 Knights and 434 Richmond (RFU), however Richmond have conceded 60 tries to the Knights’ 52. The Knights have defended their try-line more effectively but given away more kickable penalties.
Points scored are more favourable; 452 for the Knights compared to 321 for Richmond.
Richmond Full Back Rob Kirby is the fourth highest points-scorer in the Championship
Similarly Centre Jonathan Woodward is the equal-fourth top try-scorer. Scrum Half Luc Jones has only scored a couple fewer and both have scored more tries than leading Knight try-scorer Ben Hunter. Jones’ citing for an alleged tip-tackle on Andy Bulumakau last November was dismissed by the RFU, so will there be some bad blood there?
Other fixtures occurring this weekend that could affect our league position are:
Friday 16th March
Jersey Reds (6th, 5 points below) travel to Richmond Athletic ground to play London Scottish (11th)
Sunday 18th March
Nottingham Rugby (8th) welcome Bedford Blues (3rd, 2 points above) to Lady Bay Sports Ground
Carnegie (5th, equal points) host Ealing Trailfinders (2nd) at Emerald Carnegie Stadium
COYK
DONNY, DONNY, DONNY…