Victory made sweeter by loss for title rivals

The Knights outscored the Students by five tries to two on a windy day in Leicestershire, meaning Clive Griffiths’ side took all five points back to South Yorkshire but proceedings started far from ideally.

The enthusiastic Students struck first after Doncaster conceded a penalty deep in their own territory and hooker Gareth Harris touched down.

Donny reacted well through their powerful pack, who enjoyed authority upfront for most of the afternoon.

One powerful scrum created a platform for flanker Michael Hills to cut loose before handing on to Argentinean Bruno Bravo who danced his way over the line and winger Tyson Lewis doubled the Knights tally just before half-time.

A second score for National One’s top scorer Lewis along with a penalty try and a touch down, on his return from injury, for former captain Chris Hallam secured a comfortable win for the Castle Park side.

There was more good news shortly after the full-time whistle as results from across the division filtered through, with near rivals Rosslyn Park and Fylde both suffering defeats to leave Knights leading the division seven points.

Wharfedale failed to record a league double over Coventry, falling to a 22-10 defeat in a game that was one for the purists.

Heavy rain in the Midlands for days and the hard work of Coventry’s groundstaff’s was rewarded with the decision to play being made at 9am.

The main problem with the weather was the wind.

Wharfedale used the conditions well but were unfortunate to see two long Tom Barrett kicks go dead.

Coventry tried to clear their lines in the first half by kicking but the strong wind meant they gained very little territory.

In the second half Dale refused to kick and spent long periods of possession in and around their own 22.

This meant they denied Coventry possession and the expected points.

Coventry dominated the set piece and the Green machine spent most of the afternoon retreating, either losing the ball or conceding a penalty.

Relief came in the dying minutes when prop Jake Armstrong was sin binned. With Dickinson on as replacement for the injured Adam Howard the home side was denied a chance of a push over try as the referee was forced to call for uncontested scrums.

Coventry ran the ball well in the first half but Dale always looked dangerous. Coventry took an early lead with a penalty after a tackle by Aaron Myers was judged as dangerous. They increased the lead after a missed penalty was caught, juggled but grounded legally by Mark Kohler.

Barrett opened the scoring for Wharfedale with a long drop goal.

The try of the match was then scored by Scott Jordan which took Wharfedale into a 10-8 lead.

Coventry’s two other tries came either side of half-time and were both after sustained periods of pressure in Dale’s 22 by the Coventry forwards.

Will Hurrell and Max Northcote-Green scored the tries with Cliff Hodgson adding the extras.

It was not a flowing game of rugby but commitment and team work were in evidence a plenty from both squads.

Hull Ionians suffered their heaviest defeat of the season so far as visitors Old Albanian ran in nine tries on their way to a 53-7 victory.

The home side did produce some moments of enterprising rugby, especially when they worked the ball out wide to their wingers, but they came up against a resolute defence.

Old Albanian had no problem breaking through the Ionians defence at the other end.

The East Yorkshire side relied on the boot of Chris Reakes – and a strong wind – to clear the ball out of defence in the opening minutes, but it was only a matter time before their rivals scored with Laurence White breaking 60 metres for their opening try after 13 minutes.

Winger Mike Allen ran in another from long range three 
minutes later, and Bill Johnson and Stef Liebenburg put their names on the scoresheet on 25 and 33 
minutes respectively as the 
visitors took a 22-0 lead at half-time.

Ionians made a bright start to the second half and Chris Reakes crashed over after Keane Naylor had made the initial break. Isaac Green converted.

But there was no stopping Albanian, who tightened up and capitalised on errors to score further tries through Andrew Daish, Will Briggs, Lawrence Rayner and George Saunders, the last being an 80-metre break.

Harrogate’s National Two North match at home to Macclesfield has been postponed until February 22.

Hull’s game at Birmingham and Solihull in National Two North also fell foul of the weather, as did the Yorkshire derby between Sheffield Tigers and Otley.