HEADINGLEY KNIGHTMARE

Doncaster Knights took a big step towards the RFU Championship play off final with a comprehensive 30 points to 17 victory over Yorkshire Carnegie in the first leg of the semi-final. They were helped by poor discipline from the home side, who until later on in the match could never get to grips with their lively visitors.

2 penalties in the first 5 minutes gave the Knights the platform to score the first try, and when Cusack converted, and then added a penalty, Donny were on their way. Carnegie were falling foul of the referee far too often, and on 38 minutes, Charlie Beech picked up a yellow card, and the Knights crossed again by the side of the posts. Another conversion, but on the stroke of half time, Sinfield reduced the arrears with a long range penalty.

Yorkshire started the second half brightly, but only 4 minutes into the half, a number of reset scrums close to the home line resulted in a penalty try for the visitors. The lead was extended to 27 – 3, after yet another penalty, and the hosts looked down and out.

There were 15 minutes left, when Hodgson and Green were brought into the fray, and for the first time in the game, the momentum swung in Carnegie’s favour. Burrows made a rampaging run through the defence and looked a certain scorer. He was hauled down just short but the ball was recycled and Oli Goss was on hand to crash over. Hodgson drop kicked the conversion, but another penalty restored Donny’s 20 point advantage.

With the clock ticking away, Carnegie won a line out close to the line and Chris Walker was driven over, the conversion making the score 17 – 30. The hosts threw the ball about with abandon looking for another score, but it never came, and they now have a mountain to climb in the second leg next week.

Another dis-appointing performance on the big stage. The penalty count cost them dearly today, as much in terms of lost territory as in points conceded. Another concern was that once again, our only plan seemed to be ‘give it to Buzz’. He was watched like a hawk, but we seemed devoid of alternative ideas.

Not too many contenders for a man of the match, but for his efforts in the last 15 minutes, which have at least given us a lifeline, my bottle of pop is going to Joel Hodgson. An unexpected result, but a thoroughly deserved win for the Knights in front of a crowd of 3102. Our Yorkshire rivals are now red hot favourites now to reach the final.