Doncaster keep their mind on the job in hand
DISCIPINED Doncaster put the off-field disruptions of Steve Boden’s departure behind them to win a tense Friday night clash at Lady Bay.
Second row Harry Wilson put in a try scoring man of the match display, with wing Jack Metcalf and blindside Fyn Brown also scoring as the Yorkshire side got only their second win in Nottingham for six years to continue their rise up the Championship table.
Knight’s fly-half Billy McBryde said: “The conditions played their part, and it wasn’t the best spectacle, but to come down to Lady Bay and get four points on a tough night is a good start for this next block of games.
“Our field kicking really won us the game. Given the uncertainty around Steve leaving it’s not been easy, but it makes this extra pleasing.
“Nottingham threw the ball around as much as possible. Given their dangerous backs, who score 80 per cent of their tries, we knew containing that threat would put us in a good position, and we did that really well.”
Nottingham, off the back of three wins in a row including against a Leicester development side, came into the clash as favourites. But within three minutes, Doncaster showed the departure of their director of rugby had little impact, working the ball into Notts 22 before Wilson craftily picked the ball up from a ruck and squeezed through a gap to score.
Nottingham quickly leveled, centre Jack Stapley spinning away from a tackle to open a huge gap and a quick offload to Harry Graham put the winger over the line.
Doncaster went for a driving maul in the corner
before spreading crossfield and Metcalf sliced through to score.
Northampton loanee Kayde Sylvester got on the end of a typical David Williams quick break for a debut try and fly-half Matt Arden’s conversion gave Nottingham the lead. But it was short lived, Knights utilised their set-piece advantage before wing Maliq Holden darted down his flank, setting up Brown to muscle over.
An Archers ruck penalty allowed Russell Bennett to extend Donny’s lead before half-time. The full-back missed another early in the second-half and with the Bay turning boggy Knights held firm.
Nottingham coach Craig Hammond said: “We are very disappointed, we had more than 1,000 fans support us and wanted to give them a win. There was some good effort but we need to improve our discipline as that wasn’t good enough.”