Knights win again

[BobG]

Just beaten Rotherham 34-24. First time in 5 years they've beaten them too. Haven't seen a table yet but they'll be second again.

BobG

[Donnywolf]

Second by 7 points I think it is

... and after 5 Seasons of trying they finally lay the ghost of the Titans. Should have won at least 3 of those games though including the "freak" Penalty game at Castle Park a couple of Seasons ago ... and just this Season (away) again a missed Penalty with a minute to go would have seen Rovrum off but Flockhart missed and Titans went upfield and scored a try !

Even today when the final scrum was taking place I was desperate for Knights to go for another try rather than kick it out - greedy ? Yes but there was a lot of pain to assuage !

Attendance .... a very good 3,287

[GazLaz]

The Knights forwards just dominated the game.

[Donnywolf]

Exactly right ... the 50 yard maul was just one example. Cant understand why Knights who were so dominant went for a Penalty on Half Time instead of ... kick to the corner ... win line out ... push Titans back over own line ?

Never mind I will take a win like that rather than a loss especially in the situations I posted above

[Sprotyrover]

Nice to see Jack berg manus is doing well, used to play at Wheatley as a youth.

[Donnywolf]

Nice to see Jack berg manus is doing well, used to play at Wheatley as a youth.

Aye him and Richard List (Thorne) local lads doing well

Who did tackle of the Month though ?
 https://vine.co/v/iJuxqJFFhjq

[coventryrover]

Will Hurrell.

He played down here at Cov and was an excellent player.  How's he doing for the Knights?

[Donnywolf]

Will Hurrell.

He played down here at Cov and was an excellent player.  How's he doing for the Knights?

All the squad seem to be bang on and there is a huge competition for places. I was disappointed Tyson Lewis was missing at Number 11 (not on bench so presumable injured) and presumably Will H took his place - and put in that tackle.

In the end Tyson was not missed because the Knights Forwards dominated each time they got possession and though not a spectacle at east a win. They are on again Easter Sunday btw home to Bristol !

Will Hurrell info from Website also looks great

DOB: 15/01/90
Height: 6' 1"
Weight: 104 KG
Representative Honours: England Counties, England U20s



The 25-year-old joined the Knights from National Division One outfit Coventry in May having been a pivotal part of the Midlanders squad for the past two seasons, picking up the Supporters Player of the year for 2014/15.

Prior to his stint at Butts Park, Will accrued considerable professional rugby experience having risen through the ranks at Leicester Tigers before leaving for the Capital to join London Welsh in their Championship winning 2011/12 campaign. Hurrell also spent a season down the road with Rotherham Titans before returning to the Midlands.

The hard running centre/winger was an ever-present in Coventry’s starting XV last season, missing just one league game and touching down for 11 tries. This impressive form saw Will called into the England Counties squad in February, though this wasn’t the winger’s first national call up having previously worn the red rose at two U20 IRB Junior World Championships in 2009 and 2010

[The L J Monk]

17-17 draw for them today away at Ealing.

[Donnywolf]

P*** poor after their recent results ... but hey that is Sport I suppose !

[BobG]

And they've got Bristol next week too......

BobG

[Donnywolf]

And they've got Bristol next week too......

BobG

Should be v Yorkshire Carnegie at Home on the 13th ... Bristol Game is on Sky again as part of a double header on Easter Sunday !

Carnegie v Bedford
Knights v Bristol

Castle Park opening facilities early so people can watch the earlier game in comfort with Beer etc !

All the top 4 and of course the Playoff contenders. Interestingly if Knights DID manage promotion somehow they may be looking for a temporary new home as their Ground (great as it is) is not deemed good enough. That is the upper echelons closing ranks I suspect

[BobG]

Bugger! You're right. Sorry.

Re your last comment? Really??? I read somewhere not very long ago that an ex England player (forgotten who sadly) thought Castle Park was a stupendous place. I suppose it's really only a 2 sided ground still though. Maybe they don't like that?

Bob

[Donnywolf]

Yes I am pretty sure I am right because I have been told by a few different people and amazingly they said Bedford's Ground too is not "fit" for the Premier Division

It is all change as they - the PL - close ranks to try to become a closed shop so they have the Crème de la Crème in there at all times and how times have changed because the Titans of Rotherham a one sided Ground posed no problems just a few years back and I have to say (objectively) it is a dump compared to Castle Park but they had a much better Team than the others including the Knights and won Promo on merit. I have a feeling they played at Millmoor though thinking about it and in the very unlikely chance of Knights being able to get Promo I suspect they may "loan" the Keepmoat

Further research (Googling) needed ! Stay tuned anyone vaguely interested

EDIT to add Bedford article ... even though it is 2013 I am sure it is still valid
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/22625703

EDIT ... Although I am within days of my 65th (which I cant bloody believe ) the old grey matter seems intact as I did remember correctly Titans at Millmoor

Rotherham Titans moved to Clifton Lane in the late 1930s[21] and have played every league season at Clifton Lane apart from the 2003–04 Premiership season during Rotherham's second stint as they instead shared Millmoor stadium with Rotherham United Football Club to satisfy promotion criteria. Rotherham returned to Clifton Lane the following year.

The Titans still need to resolve issues surrounding facilities. They have been turned down for promotion before due to this, and require better facilities if they are to be promoted. As aforementioned The Titans have shared Millmoor stadium with Rotherham United Football Club in the past. Rotherham United Football Club’s Chairman, Dennis Coleman, had mentioned the possibility of sharing the newly constructed New York Stadium. However the Titans opted out of the use of this stadium as they pursued alternative facilities.

EDIT .... nothing definitive on Knights Ground but this is an extract from a Yorkshire Post article from about a Month ago ...

Later, De Mulder and Lloyd invested yet more as they financed a new main stand which holds 1,800 – taking capacity to 5,000 – and has a conference centre plus hospitality suites.

The stadium would have to improve further if they did upset the odds and make that last, final, giant step into the Premiership


Read more: http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/local/interview-doncaster-knights-crusade-heads-to-the-promised-land-1-7608285#ixzz3zWCFIs9n

[dknward2]

Depends what they need to sort at castle park. Could be training facilaties or a tv to show replays etc, if they need to improve the stand or build another it could be sorted in a short time if needs be.

[wilts rover]

I belive the current criteria for Knights to gain promotion is 'primacy of tenure' at a ground with a minimum 10000 capacity including 4000 seats. Clearly Castle Park wont meet that and Knights would have to share somewhere.

London Welsh didnt have that when they won the play-offs in 2012 and although they had agreed a ground share with Oxford United to use the Kasam Stadium, which did meet the criteria, this was objected to and they were initally denied promotion as they had not notified the RFU about the ground sharing arangement - the season before!

They appealed this and the case went on for quite a time before they were let in.
http://www.farrer.co.uk/Global/Briefings/13.%20Sports%20Briefing/Analysis%20of%20the%20London%20Welsh%20Case.pdf

[Sammy Chung was King]

Ealing is a poor result for them, but at the start of the season it wouldn't have been seen that way. By the look of the table they would need to beat Bristol to give them the chance of the title.
On the ground i can't see how they would be able to develop it quick enough for it to be counted as good enough.
 It would be a shame because they have taken over as the most successful sports team in the town, while ourselves and the dons are in a bit of a lull.
There would be some s..t storm if they were denied promotion, but the way things are it wouldn't change things unfortunately.

[The Red Baron]

There's a stadium that ticks all the boxes just up the road from them!

Mind you, it would play havoc with the pitch. Could be a nice little earner for Rovers though.

PS. Just realised that they wouldn't have primacy of tenure.

[idler]

They wouldn't have first call on the stadium though.
Rovers and Knights both due at home on a Saturday would stop a chance of any ground share.

[eastender]

They wouldn't have first call on the stadium though.
Rovers and Knights both due at home on a Saturday would stop a chance of any ground share.

I'm pretty sure that London Irish don't have first call on the Madejski Stadium or the current Aviva Champions Saracens on Vicarage Road.
I could be wrong though.

[idler]

They are established clubs with a bit of clout though.
We are just northern upstarts and won't be welcomed with open arms.
Just my opinion but can see the old school tie working against us if we qualify to go up.

[Donnywolf]

Exactly .... they are closing ranks already and hoping to seal up the Premiership to keep the upstarts such as "tlodk" where they belong ... in the second tier

Before that happens though they intend to increase the Premiership by 2 Clubs presumably to get Bristol and Bedford / Carnegie up there. The Team getting relegated this Season will also be afforded every opportunity to make it back too before the Drawbridge gets raised. Ironic as Knights play at Castle Park of course

[wilts rover]

They wouldn't have first call on the stadium though.
Rovers and Knights both due at home on a Saturday would stop a chance of any ground share.

I'm pretty sure that London Irish don't have first call on the Madejski Stadium or the current Aviva Champions Saracens on Vicarage Road.
I could be wrong though.

You are correct with Saracens Eastender - given they haven't played at Watford since 2013!

Of more relevance are Bristol, who of course now play at Ashton Gate...

[Donnywolf]

AND AGAIN !!!

Beat Leeds Carnegie (whoops sorry) I meant Yorkshire Carnegie of course 34-28 or some similar score and consolidate second place

We must hope for and prepare for them playing at the Keepmoat next Season (please)

[tommy toes]

Great win today. Never thought I'd say this but I wish I'd been there today instead of watching that dreadful event at the Keepmoat.

[Donnywolf]

Great win today. Never thought I'd say this but I wish I'd been there today instead of watching that dreadful event at the Keepmoat.

Me too ... and there was no chance we would hear this today except at Castle Park

https://mtc.cdn.vine.co/r/videos/F7159B43EE1310358377746100224_4adae017962.5.1.14883664995398705671.mp4?versionId=vkny.yVIvfjvU_Eo26tvIKCX5U1YVyqR

[Donnywolf]

Great win today. Never thought I'd say this but I wish I'd been there today instead of watching that dreadful event at the Keepmoat.

Wind and Water or Celtic Gold ? Which was the best ?

[tommy toes]

Celtic Gold John.
I still think of that horse regularly.
Loved him to bits.

[tommy toes]

Ps
49 years ago today CG was runner up in the Schweppes Gold Trophy (now Betfair Hurdle)

[Donnywolf]

ok I am convinced now ! Ayup CH