Gomarsall recovery looks set to keep Mathie waiting

The South African No 9 has had to play second fiddle to former England player Andy Gomarsall as Leeds Carnegie attempt to establish themselves among the country's elite.

Gomarsall limped off 20 minutes into his 200th Premiership appearance at Sale on Friday but is hopeful of featuring in Sunday's home game against former club Wasps (2pm).

"I've been getting 30 minutes as an impact player so it was nice to get 60 minutes on Friday, and, hopefully, I've taken my chance," said former Natal Shark Mathie, 27, who stole down the blindside to cross for Leeds's first try in three league games at Sale.

"I'll be really excited when I get a start. I've been waiting in the wings most of the season and I've been ready for a while."

Mathie joined before Andy Key and Neil Back succeeded Stuart Lancaster in the summer of 2008 and is ready to put all he has learned in nearly two years in English rugby to good use.

"Andy Gomarsall's a great player with a lot of experience and I have learnt a lot off him in terms of leadership," said Mathie.

"He communicates really well with the pack and he moves them around the field well. There's a lot of little things that you learn from someone with so much experience.

"And last year in National One was a great learning curve, it's really set me up for this year."

Doncaster Knights require only a bonus point at Bristol tonight to cement their place in the promotion play-offs.

Saturday's win at Bedford moved them up to seventh, five points ahead of Moseley, who occupy the final place in the relegation play-off zone.

Even then Moseley would have to earn a bonus-point win against promotion-favourites Bristol in their final league game next month, and Doncaster would have to take nothing against eighth-placed Plymouth for Lynn Howells's side to drop into the relegation play-offs.