KNIGHTRIDERS
By Jonny Browne
April 20 2021
I, like all of you I suspect, am thinking that prior to this game Sarries are, at last you might say, in a good place – we’ve adapted to the demands that the Championship makes, with its big packs, good organisation, plenty of experience and in many cases the fitness of full-time professionals, along with the huge motivation of playing against the “fallen giants”.
It’s been a steep learning curve, and last week against one of the better sides in the form of our old friends Bedford and with several of our internationals back in the black and red, we now look like convincing candidates to earn promotion albeit that we will need all six remaining games to be five-pointers - and with a lot of points on the board - to guarantee second place. We’ve games in hand, which helps.
Speaking personally, it’s another “wish we were on the trip” day (aren’t they all…) and in particular Mrs. Jonny, a very proud Yorkshire girl, would have loved an excuse, not that she ever really needs one, to return to God’s Own Country for some decent beer, hearing English as it should be spoken, and a Cow Pie..
I have at this point to mention the highly entertaining SSA Virtual Gathering before the match, where we met a truly delightful not to say eccentric group of Doncaster supporters, two of whom were resplendent in chain mail and splendidly dubbed Sir Cumference and Sir Peesalot….we didn’t ask about the latter…….who I for one would love to have met in person, and I suspect that in the future, even if we don’t play them in a competitive game for a while, there may well visits to Castle Park by numbers of Sarries fans. I might add that our very own Nigel admirably kept our end up in the medieval battledress stakes…
Sarries are virtually at full strength today, with Owen Farrell and Nick Tompkins making their first appearances since returning from England and Dragons duty respectively, and Sean Reffell starts at openside. To paraphrase Bill Shankly, our side is looking grisly strong…
I’m not too familiar with the Knights line-up although there are two well-known names in the squad – Sam, son of John, Olver who starts at fly-half while their full-back is Billy McBryde, son of former Wales hooker and recently-appointed forwards coach for the upcoming Lions tour.
Before the game we have a minute’s silence for the Duke of Edinburgh, an ardent supporter of all sports.
Sam Olver gets matters underway, with a deep kick-off which in his first act in a Sarries shirt for some considerable time (I’ve lost count but it must be a good year) Tompkins fumbles and Doncaster work forward – there seems to be a pattern to the opening phases of Sarries’ games this season. Sarries defend calmly and Davies kicks long, forcing Doncaster to build again from inside their own half.
A kicking match ends with Doncaster finding touch. Sarries work forward from the lineout and a box kick from Davies leads to a break from Evans, which thankfully is pulled back for a penalty to Sarries.
Farrell kicks to 25 and Sarries push forward with Vunipola B prominent but it’s another penalty for a high tackle and a maul from the 5 metre lineout pushes up to be thwarted by a penalty to Doncaster for offside close to line. Clever defence – these Knights of Yorkshire know what they’re doing……..
The next meaningful action is a scrum to Doncaster in their half, 25 metres out which results in a free kick to Sarries and we elect to go for another scrum – but it’s a free kick to Doncaster, who exit long and high. Sarries gather and charge forward but Doncaster regain possession and try to work forward. Sarries’ turn to win it back, then it’s a Doncaster steal and they’re given a penalty. A slightly frustrated Farrell has a word with Ian Tempest and I do wonder how, in the hopefully few games he’ll have to play at this level, how he and Championship match officials will get on…..
Doncaster choose to go for the posts from 37 metres out and Olver calmly slots over to make it 3-0 on 11 minutes. Doncaster have started well, and while it’s not quite the flyer Richmond had at the Athletic Ground, they’re giving as good as they get.
Farrell goes long with the restart but we come back for a scrum to Doncaster.
Another free kick to Sarries which Vunipola B cleverly taps, a peach of a pass from Farrell finds Obatoyinbo, who feeds the in-form Lewington to go over wide on the right as Doncaster try hard to stop him. Farrell kicking from wide misses and at 13 minutes it’s 3-5.
George gathers the restart and Sarries drive forward but Maitland is penalised for offside. Doncaster kick to 8 metres out but the maul is driven back and eventually collapsed by Itoje for another penalty to Doncaster who kick to 5 metres and form a maul but it’s knock on and a scrum to Sarries not too far out from our line which wins us yet another free kick, this time for early engagement.
Farrell kicks long and Sarries push forward followed by a game of kick tennis which ends with Olver finding touch - Doncaster are playing well, without really causing any major panics in the Sarries ranks although Tompkins briefly sets a few Knights hearts a-fluttering with a break but with no supporting runners this comes to nothing.
Sarries continue to push forward with a penalty advantage for high tackle - Challinor is warned by the ref. The resulting lineout on the 22 is worked well – our set pieces are markedly improved of late - and Sarries have another advantage for not rolling away….but it’s not needed though as a characteristically clever grubber from Farrell finds Maitland who goes over on the left. Farrell misses an easier conversion than earlier to leave things at 3-10 after 20 minutes.
Itoje gathers the restart and we set up a maul. Davies kicks high and Doncaster fluff their gather and it’s a scrum to Sarries - a reset is followed by a penalty to Doncaster on their 40. McBryde, I think it is, kicks very long for a lineout on Sarries’ 22. The ensuing maul is pushed sideways as Doncaster try to work forward but Sarries get the ball and a long kick goes into touch on the Doncaster 22. Doncaster try to exit after the lineout and find touch. Sarries then drive forward but lose possession but Doncaster are penned in but stay calm and kick long. Sarries then flow forward in a good spell of play which sends Obatoyinbo in towards the try line but his sidestep doesn’t quite lose the tracking defenders and he’s held up. Shame, he’s playing well and deserves something.
A good scrum yields an advantage to Sarries but again it’s not needed as Itoje, who’s clearly enjoying being back at the club, drives over - can Farrell make it third time lucky?....sadly no – but at 3-15 on 31 minutes we’re edging closer to a try bonus point with 50-odd minutes still to play and Doncaster wilting slightly.
The kick to restart bobbles, allowing Doncaster to snatch possession but they are pushed back but are able to exit with a high kick which allows Sarries to push forward now. Another high kick, this time from Davies, and it’s Doncaster’s turn to try to work forward again – it’s a poor kick, though, and a lineout to Sarries on the halfway line – in a lovely spell of play, Tompkins breaks again, this time through the middle, and although he’s brought down before he can get over the line, a “looper” out to Rhodes allows the man known as Country to take it home (sorry). Farrell finds his place-kicking touch at last and it’s 3-22 at, 36 mins. The try bonus point is ours, and even at this stage it’s likely to be all five, but I’m conscious that we need to pile on a significant points and Doncaster are not looking at all likely to just roll over.
Sarries gather the restart and Davies dinks the ball forward which Doncaster pick up but a huge hit from Farrell stops them – Sarries play some nice stuff in the closing stages but the ball’s fumbled forward and the last action of the half is a scrum Doncaster on their 22.
Half-time brings pork pies (with piccalilli - obviously), a debate sparked by perusal of the Doncaster’s Cow Pie recipe as to whether a dish with only a pastry topping can actually be called a pie (for the record, Mrs Jonny and I agree that it can’t) and time to reflect on a satisfactory performance so far. Farrell’s looking sharp and physical, having Nick Tompkins back gives us a “barnstorming” option that could turn out to be a key asset against Ealing, and while Doncaster are by no means outclassed, we’re looking more like our ruthless selves in the “Red Zone” which bodes well for the Trailfinders game when chances will need to be taken.
The teams amble back out into the Yorkshire sunshine, and I notice that Billy is looking more relaxed than I’ve seen him in a while.
Farrell restarts and goes deep, and Doncaster try to get out after gathering eventually winning a scrum just inside Sarries’ half but conceding a penalty which comes to nothing after, following a long kick from Daly, Sarries knock on for a scrum to Doncaster.
The second half has got off to a slightly scrappy start, and it’s a penalty to Doncaster off Koch. Olver kicks to their 40 and the Knights exit well but Sarries hold them off and kick long, trying to push forward but it’s a scrum to Doncaster. After a drink and treatment break, Doncaster exit and go high. Sarries take the mark after more good work from Obatoyinbo.
Then it’s another ruthless piece of play from Sarries, when Farrell sets off Tompkins off on another strong run through the 22 to set up the ever-improving Davies to score our fifth try on 47 mins – Farrell lands the conversion from 8 metres in to make it 3-29 and we’re looking comfortable as we enter the last half an hour.
Although Doncaster are certainly not giving the game up, Sarries’ win is pretty much sealed barring catastrophe just a few minutes later when Sarries win a scrum inside our own half, then a penalty which Daly tries to take quickly but is brought back. Second go and the kick goes long, setting Sarries off to glide forward in a lovely piece of play as Daly sets up Davies to go over under the posts on 50 mins for his second try and Sarries’ sixth – Farrell calmly adds the extras and it’s 3-36.
We’re treated to a rare sight when during a kicking match Farrell uses his left foot. A penalty to Doncaster is kicked to 12 yards out and we see the “finishers” flood on as Sarries change the front row to a formidable trio of Barrington, Woolstencroft and the cult figure that is Clarey, and Vunipola Jr is on for Farrell, who’s had a good game on his return to the colours.
Doncaster push on from the lineout with an advantage for a high tackle – Reffell wins the ball, but it’s back but back for a penalty. A well-worked lineout from Doncaster and they pile forward with Sarries defending hard - the Knights work the ball across, and a late tackle from Itoje gives the home side another penalty. Doncaster may only be playing for pride but they’re certainly making a game of it.
Sarries push Doncaster back from the 5-metre lineout and get the turnover from a fumble, surging forward – a chip finds touch on the Doncaster 22. Whiteley and Hunter-Hill are now on for two of a number of candidates for Man of the Match, Davies and Itoje, and then it’s a penalty to Sarries, then another as we look to pile on the points. From the lineout on 5 metres, though, the maul goes to ground and it’s a scrum to Doncaster.
Sarries add some fresh legs to the centres as Morris comes on for Daly, who’s had another good game. Doncaster try to push forward, and win a penalty, which gets them to 8 metres out. Rhodes gets the ball and a kick is charged down for a lineout to Sarries who then flow forward through another potential Man of the Match - the rampaging Kentish-Welshman Tompkins – and Vunipola Jr but Mitchell is adjudged to have knocked on deliberately. Sarries set up a rolling maul, which on 66 minutes takes us past the 40-point mark as Woolstencroft powers over – Vunipola Jr adds the extras and it’s 3-43.
Sarries fumble when gathering the restart and it’s a scrum to Doncaster. A good exit and Doncaster briefly threaten Sarries’ line but are pushed back and try again with an advantage for a high tackle. Going for the corner, Doncaster opt for the maul and fight their way to the line as we hear Ian Tempest talking about a yellow card, and get over on 71 minutes. Reffell turns out be invited to stroll across to the sin-bin - and it's 10-45 as McBryde converts.
Sarries secure possession but Doncaster turn it over and after a lovely, flowing, piece of play Spittle goes over for their second try on 74 minutes - McBryde pushes the conversion wide to keep the score at 15-43. The game is almost over when Evans tries to break clear for Doncaster and then Whiteley shows what we’ll miss next season as he gets a foot to the ball, chases his own kick, outpaces the Doncaster defence and dives over in almost Ashtonesque fashion. In the last play of the game, Vunipola Jr converts and it’s game over in both senses at 15-50. .
There’s no doubt that the return of the internationals has lifted Sarries at just the right stage of a shortened season, with further improvement seen in the set pieces and service to the backs, and it has to be said that our mid-season and not-so-secret secret weapon is a Nick Tompkins clearly pleased to be home, and whose energy levels and strong running may be something that Ealing may struggle to cope with – that and the sheer quality of our squad, big-match experience….
I don’t want to sound over-confident, and I’m not one for hubris, but I hope and expect we’ll see a very different Sarries performance next week to the previous two games against the Trailfinders, good side as they are.
And yes I am writing this with my fingers crossed – that’s this week’s excuse for my appalling typing.
Teams:
Doncaster: McBryde; Evans, Foley, Edwards, Spittle; Olver, Warr; Cade, Hunter, Foster, Challinor, Sexton, Joyce, Graham, Volpi.
Replacements: Roberts, Pieterse, Jones, Britton, Smith, Mitchell, Newey, Davies.
Saracens: Obatoyinbo; Lewington, Daly, Tompkins, Maitland; Farrell, Davies; Mako Vunipola, George, Koch, Itoje, Swinson, Rhodes, Reffell, B Vunipola.
Replacements: Woolstencroft, Barrington, Clarey, Hunter-Hill, Christie, Whiteley, Manu Vunipola, Morris.
Referee: Ian Tempest
I didn't see the game myself but we still seem to be making a lot of errors and getting on the wrong side of the refs!
Don't think we can afford to do that this week!
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2021:05:03:19:41:00 by Darraghgirl.
Quote:The Bard
A very full and thorough summary. Thank you!
And thank you! Just noticed that when overwriting an old document I’d copied across a line from a previous report referring to the game being in North London...oops....
Quote:tpr's headmistress
I saw that Johnny, but thought it would be rather churlish to pick that out of a very good write up. The nightmare that is 'cut and paste'!
It’s very kind of you to spare my blushes, tprh!! 😊