Doncaster Knights 22 Plymouth Albion 26: Hard work starts now for relegated Knights

Doncaster, whose detailed planning for next season in National One has already started and increases in its intensity this week under coach Clive Griffiths, played with much commitment in their last Championship game at Castle Park where it was clear again why they have been relegated.
By The Newsroom
Published 22nd Apr 2013, 10:37 BST
Chris HallamChris Hallam
Chris Hallam

Beaten by four tries to three, Doncaster made too many mistakes, and most sides are seldom going to win when they trail 19-5 at half-time.

Nevertheless, Doncaster fought back strongly, and in the second half added to the try scored earlier by scrum-half Chris Hallam, making his 100th appearance.

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Tries by forwards Chris Planchant and Adam Kettle slashed Albion’s lead to only four points, but Doncaster, who leave the Championship with three wins only and 18 defeats, had left themselves insufficient time to say goodbye with a rare win.

Now games against Tynedale, Rosslyn Park, Esher and Loughborough Students are on the horizon and, as Griffiths admits, the challenge Doncaster face is huge:

“It’s going to be difficult,” he said. “I have been impressed with the standard at the top of National One and a season of 30 league games is a marathon.

“It is going to be a big season for Doncaster and there has got to be one outcome only and that is promotion.

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“Our planning has begun and I’ve had lots of cvs. Our recruitment has to be bang on and we can’t make any mistakes.”

Griffiths has met already met some players to discuss their future or lack of it and more meetings are scheduled this week.

It is known that senior players forwards Planchant and Andy Boyde are retiring. Scrum-half Joe Bedford will not stay, and it seems certain that forwards Tom Francis, Ben Sowery and Rhys Buckley will move to Championship sides.

Griffiths is fortunate that he will be able to compete with a full time professional squad because the board and sponsors will make up the £300,000 funding Doncaster lose from the RFU.

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Doncaster: Keating, Flockhart, Mama, Luke (Simpson 56), Lewis, Braid, Hallam (Bedford 67), Davies (Brown 63), Bergmanas, Francis (Hooper 35), Challinor, Parsons, Nayacavou (Kettle 54), Hafu (Sowery 67), Planchant.

Plymouth: Messer (Cusack 54), Warner, Howley-Berridge, Armitage, Bowen, Roberts, Cushion (Rowley 54), L Cowan-Dickie, T Cowan-Dickie (Salter 54), Fairbrother (Morton 74), Beukeboom, Ashcroft, Tovey (Phillips 54), Sprangle (Hocking 54), Stupple (Matavesi 74).

Referee: S Harding.

Related topics:DoncasterDoncaster KnightsCastle ParkStudents