Centres star as Knights charge for the play-offs gathers pace
DONCASTER start the New Year in a promising position to reach the promotion play-offs again after seeing off the Championship’s bottom club with a bonus point.
In what was a strong all round performance to earn their seventh league win of the campaign, two individuals stood out: centres Dougie Flockhart and Mat Clark.
Goal-kicker Flockhart, who put over four conversions and two penalties, became the club’s highest points scorer with over 1,000 in league and cup matches beating previous record holder Rob Liley.
Clark’s two tries after 22 and 37 minutes typified his match-winning contribution based speed of thought on genuine pace when he spots an opening.
Although Richmond fought hard, they could not prevent Doncaster turning superior possession into two more tries in the second half as forwards Robin Hislop and Ben Hunter broke through earning Knights a maximum five league points.
Doncaster coach Clive Griffiths said: “We’ve had a good 2016 and now the ambition for 2017 is to get into the play-offs,” said coach Clive Griffiths.
“We finished the old year with two wins and we didn’t concede a try in 160 minutes which takes some doing. Richmond made us work all the way and now we aim to bring cup tie rugby to Doncaster at the end of the season and to keep the excitement going.”
Richmond’s ambitions are different but just as important.. survival in the Championship in 2017.But
the London side need to be far more ruthless.
At Castle Park, they created at least four favourable scoring positions but lost the ball on each occasion in the Doncaster 22 which reprieved the Yorkshiremen who struggled to make an impact before Clark’s first try.
Richmond kept the ball alive and displayed enterprise, but Doncaster’s sharp defence and ability to exploit turn-over ball stopped them making progress against experienced opponents at this level.
“I am disappointed with the result but this was a much improved performance on our first meeting back in September,” explained Richmond’s coach Steve Hill. “Looking ahead, we’ve got two massive games against Rotherham and Bedford and the boys know that the results of those will be crucial to the outcome of our season. “We built pressure against Doncaster but didn’t take the points. Our ambition for the New Year is straightforward: to stay in the league.”