Doncaster Knights 25 Nottingham 15: Knights slash budget to ensure financial stability

POOL B

DONCASTER KNIGHTS are bracing themselves for a massive overhaul of players in the summer after the club announced it would be slashing its wage budget.

The Castle Park outfit also poured cold water on rumours they are set to relinquish their professional status.

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The streamlined second tier has been beset by financial problems in its inaugural season with London Welsh, Coventry and Birmingham & Solihull all going into administration.

Nottingham have sailed close to the precipice for the last 12 months as clubs struggle to sustain professional rugby in uncertain economic times.

Doncaster slipped to a seventh-place finish in the 22-game regular season after three previous top-five finishes.

They only attract crowds of up to 1,500 but survive thanks to the contributions of two benefactors, Tony De Mulder and Steven Lloyd.

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In 2007, Mr Lloyd pledged to improve his annual donation for the following three seasons, with that cash boost expiring at the end of this season.

Both men will continue to put money into the club but the reduction means Doncaster will have to cut their cloth accordingly.

One unnamed high-profile player has already signed for a Magners League club for next season and any player whose contract expires in the summer is expected to leave.

Club chief executive John Lowe said: "As we do at this time every season, we work out how much money the club can afford

to commit to professional rugby and how we can best spend

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this in terms of playing structure, taking into account, amongst other things, salary expectations.

"We do this to ensure that we don't go the way of the likes of Coventry, Birmingham etcetera and this has enabled us to have a predominantly professional squad for the past three years.

"Our policy has always been to ensure that the club continues to be financially stable and sustainable and that is our mantra.

"We are slightly behind our normal timetable due to the problems we had with our fixture backlog but the delay has not been critical as the season goes on longer than ever this year.

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"We are aware of certain known reductions in aspects of our funding which we are working hard to bridge but whatever budget we end up with, we believe it will be above the average for the Championship and we will definitely expect to put out a competitive squad next season."

On Saturday, the Knights returned to winning ways in their second fixture of the Pool B play-offs.

Crucially, they scored in stoppage time of each half to deny the visitors even a losing bonus point.

In the closing minutes of the first half, the Knights defended like warriors with a man down after prop Ngalu Tau was binned but still kept Nottingham at bay.

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Then, in the final moment of half, James Brooks kicked a penalty to give the hosts an eight-point lead.

Finally, in the eighth minute of stoppage time at the end of the game, the Knights earned a penalty after catching Nottingham holding on right on their line.

With only a three-point lead, the Knights set the scrum and powered over with Simon Grainger touching down. Brooks converted to deny the visitors their point.

Nottingham caught Doncaster cold early on, scoring a try after only two minutes, John Johnston finishing off after being put in by Andrew Savage.

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Doncaster hit back immediately as Bevon Armitage scored between the posts and Brooks converted.

Brooks and David Jackson exchanged penalties to level again before Oli Goss scored his first try for the Knights shortly after scrum-half Chris Hallam broke down the blindside.

Nottingham lifted the game and spent 10 minutes in the Knights' 22 but could not find a way through even with the man advantage.

Chris Briers prevented Nottingham starting the second half as they did the first with a great last-gasp ankle tap on wing Jack Cobden.

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Nottingham came again and 15 minutes into the half, they got their try, lock Nick Rouse finishing off a good move.

Jackson could not convert and Nottingham rarely threatened again as the Knights defence

dug in before sending Nottingham back down the M1 with nothing.

Doncaster Knights: A Carter, A Wright, C Briers, B Armitage, O Goss, J Brooks, C Hallam, S Corsar, S Boden, N Tau, G Kenworthy, G Townson, N Cochrane, S Grainger, A Boyde. Replacements: M Cusack, S Lawrie, T Toke, B Griffiths, D Smith, M D'arcy, S McColl.

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Nottingham Rugby: D Jackson, A Savage, T Casson, J Johnston, J Cobden, G Tonks, D White, M Parr, T Youngs, B Buxton, E Slater, N Rouse, C Hammond, L Sheriff, D Hemmingway. Replacements: S Harrison, T Streather, N Fowkes, G Sammons, C Eggleshaw, S Raven, C Green.