Five tries, five points but Knights boss isn’t happy!

By GUY WILLIAMS

Doncaster ……..36pts

Tries: Penalty 39, Edgson 47, Volpi 60, Paul 72, Spittle 80

Conversions: Olver 47, 60, 80

Penalties: Olver 3

L Scottish …………7pts

Tries: Hanks 10

Conversions: May 10

DONCASTER recovered strongly from their opening defeat by Coventry last week, winning by five tries to one at Castle Park, and encouragingly during their first win of the new campaign, the Knights earned a maximum of five points.

After a mediocre first half in which Doncaster were awarded a penalty try following a high tackle by Scottish winger Leo Fielding, the Knights improved and scored four more tries by hooker George Edgson, Argentinean No.8 Guido Volpi, replacement prop Henry Paul and, just before the final whistle, by winger Jack Spittle.

However, despite the result, coach Steve Boden, a hard man to please, was far from happy.

“Defensively this was a big improvement, but we coughed up possession far too easily. Against better opposition, it will cost us in a big, big way.

“We left 25 points on the field and I wasn't too pleased with the performance of the pack.

“Our scrum and maul was too passive, so our set-piece was massively below par.”

Scottish, who've lost both their opening matches, began positively, scoring the first try of a rather dull contest as centre Sam Hanks collected a loose ball which Doncaster's defence failed to deal with, and while they trailed only 10-7 at the interval, Scottish were prevented from transferring possession into tries by effective Doncaster tackling.

The Exiles' cause was not helped by the sin-binning of Fielding just before the interval, and then later his team-mate, hooker Nick Selway was given a yellow card in the 63rd for foul play in the ruck.

Doncaster capitalised immediately when Volpi, along with flanker Sam Graham the Knights' most forthright forward, dashed more than 20 metres to the line, and with Sam Olver converting, they led 24-7.

This defeat for Scottish followed the loss to Jerse, but backs' coach Ricky Khan said: “I'm disappointed with the scoreline, but not with the endeavour showed by our players.

“We played the second half without a recognised fly-half and it may be that the replacement 10, Harry Sheppard, has broken his collar bone.

“Our performance was 100 per cent better than against Jersey.”