The Rugby Paper

Nottingham no match for Knights on charge

- By STEVE KENNY

DONCASTER maintained their push for a play-off place by sweeping aside a flimsy Nottingham challenge at muddy Lady Bay.

A win by five tries to one left Doncaster boss Clive Griffiths claiming it was one of the best wins on the road in his five-year tenure.

Doncaster, smarting from a defeat by play-off rivals Ealing two weeks’ ago, surprised Nottingham in a quick start when they sped into a 19-0 lead.

Griffiths said: “It was a very controlled and proud performanc­e. It was a kick in the belly last time (against Ealing) but it was not fatal.

“We took it away in the second half and showed we wanted to play throughout. Hopefully, the spectators were impressed with the way we played in the conditions.

“We want to get in the top four. London Irish are massive favourites but funny things happen in knock-out rugby.”

Doncaster’s only blip came after those opening tries from backs Paul Jarvis and Dougie Flockhart plus one by fly half Simon Humberston­e, who grew in confidence as the match progressed.

Nottingham gave the home crowd some hope when prop Ben Hooper finished off to reduce the 19-0 deficit two minutes from the break. But a further spell of pressure failed to produce a second try which would have left Nottingham closer than 19-7 down at the break.

The second half did not produce the fluid phase play of the first and Doncaster needed some forward muscle for two tries from flanker Michael Hills.

Nottingham never mounted a proper challenge in the second half despite a backline rejig that saw centre Vili Hakalo replaced by Chris Eden.

For Nottingham, this was a fifth successive Championsh­ip defeat since they beat defunct London Welsh 26-20 at the start of December.

Coach Ian Costello has been hit by injuries in an attempt to find a settled combinatio­n from a squad of nearly 50 players used in all competitio­ns.

Costello had hoped for a “bounce back” after a 60-14 defeat at Irish in their last game.

But Nottingham failed to match Doncaster in the first half amid a poor line-out and some dropped passes in midfield.

Costello said: “We were beaten by a very good side. We just could not put them under enough pressure. We just have to pick ourselves up for the next match.”

Nottingham go to Richmond next week before they host Bedford on March 5. That is now the last home Championsh­ip game of the season because of London Welsh’s demise.

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