Knights are left to rue missing bonus as showdown looms

Doncaster Knights ran out comfortable 25-10 winners over Hertfordshire-based Old Albanians to stay top of National One.
Doncaster Knights' Bevon Armitage.Doncaster Knights' Bevon Armitage.
Doncaster Knights' Bevon Armitage.

Having enjoyed a strong first half, it appeared Clive Griffiths’s men could well dish out a thrashing but credit must be given to the visitors, who defended stoutly until the end.

Albanians registered the first try as centre Johannes Lombard took advantage of some weak defending to crash over. The lead was shortlived, though, as home tries from Jacob Woodhouse and Bevon Armitage along with five points from the boot of fly-half Jamie Lennard meant the Knights went into the break 10 points to the good.

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The Castle Park outfit were quick out of the blocks in the second period, a penalty quickly followed by another try through Kiwi Chris Walker giving them a comfortable cushion.

Knights went in search of the important bonus point fourth try but were unable to break down a hardy defence and the visitors were rewarded late on.

A break from scrum-half Stef Liebenberg culminated in Lloyd Bickle scoring an 80th-minute try in the game’s final play.

The Knights may rue missing out on the bonus point as they head to London to face second-placed Rosslyn Park this weekend.

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Hull Ionians went down 25-15 at Loughborough Students after a battling display by the relegated East Yorkshire side.

Ionians led 10-0 before Loughborough hit back to lead at the break. Level at 15-15 with 10 minutes left, Ionians leaked a late try which left them empty-handed.

Scrum-half Isaac Green kicked them into the lead and Loughborough suffered setbacks with their first-choice prop and hooker going off injured.

Ionians maintained the pressure and No 8 Alex Campbell burrowed over on 24 minutes, Green adding the conversion.

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Loughborough got off the mark with replacement Jacob Fields touching down, and a penalty from winger Alex Davies narrowed the gap.

Ionians flanker Alex Torkington was injured and replaced by Daniel Hague, and Loughborough took the lead when right winger Craig Dowsett raced in, Davies converting.

Inside centre Chris Reakes bagged Ionians’ second try on 67 minutes but the match swung in Loughborough’s favour with second-row Ed Taylor bagging their third try, and Davies added the conversion and a last-minute penalty to secure the win.

Wharfedale’s 37-13 home defeat to Blaydon extended their losses to six in a row.

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Tom Barrett and Andrew Baggett exchanged penalties before Blaydon’s Thomas Penny crossed.

Alex Powell was driven over for Dale and Barrett added the extras.

Blaydon’s scrum-half was yellow-carded but Christopher Wearmouth scored a converted try and they led 18-13 at the break after a penalty to the hosts.

The second half saw a battered Wharfedale concede three more tries as Blaydon played the more expansive rugby as their pack dominated. Thomas Grimes, Thomas Penny and Nathan Bailey got the tries with Baggett converting two.