Kenworthy is praised for hosts' forward aggression

DONCASTER KNIGHTS director of rugby Clive Griffiths praised his forwards coach Glen Kenworthy after his side destroyed Rotherham Titans up front yesterday.
Rotherham Titans' Luke CarterRotherham Titans' Luke Carter
Rotherham Titans' Luke Carter

No8 Ollie Stedman scored a hat-trick of tries from line-out drives and replacement flanker Latu Makaafi also crossed in that manner as, in front of the Sky cameras, Doncaster came out on top 34-24 to regain second place in the Championship.

Griffiths admitted: “We contrived to make life difficult for ourselves but at the same time were pretty dominant.

“I’m absolutely rapped and our forwards were magnificent.

Doncaster Knights' Mat Clark scores the opening try. (Picture: Simon Hulme)Doncaster Knights' Mat Clark scores the opening try. (Picture: Simon Hulme)
Doncaster Knights' Mat Clark scores the opening try. (Picture: Simon Hulme)
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“I’ve got to pay tribute to Kendo; he’s done a terrific job this season and he deserves a massive pat on the back.

“There was four catch-and-drive line-outs which were outstanding.

“It’s been a very potent weapon of ours all season to go with our running game and I don’t think we failed in any of them.”

Victory came at a cost, though, with goal-kicking winger Dougie Flockhart suffering a potentially season-ending torn bicep and fly-half Declan Cusack gaining another concussion.

Doncaster Knights' Mat Clark scores the opening try. (Picture: Simon Hulme)Doncaster Knights' Mat Clark scores the opening try. (Picture: Simon Hulme)
Doncaster Knights' Mat Clark scores the opening try. (Picture: Simon Hulme)
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Griffiths hopes to borrow Northampton Saints’ 21-year-old fly-half Sam Olver in time for Friday’s trip to Ealing.

Rotherham, meanwhile, suffered an eighth successive defeat and are now down to tenth just eight points adrift of the relegation spot.

Titans head coach Mark 
Jones admitted: “I’m very disappointed.

“Look at how naive we are in certain areas of the game and of the pitch; you can’t come here and be so inaccurate in key moments.

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“There was a couple of (missed) goal kicks at the end of the first half and start of the second which were big momentum swingers in the game itself.

“We conceded again at set-piece mauls which happens in this league but when you have discipline like us and give two, three, four or five opportunities for the opponents to drive mauls, nine times out of ten they will score.

“Our level of discipline as a group was unacceptable; we gave Doncaster too much help.”