Flockhart shows his class again to inspire the Titans

DONCASTER are celebrating reaching the promotion play-offs for the second season running after this vital win against their closest rivals and the Yorkshire side can also thank Richmond for toppling Cornish Pirates who also had hopes of finishing in the top four.

With so much at stake for both clubs, Doncaster won a ferociously contested match in which the Knight’s right winger, Dougie Flockhart, stood out in a highly effective team effort.

Flockhart’s match winning performance of 19 points was a reminder of the high class he has shown throughout another successful campaign.

They will now face promotion favourites London Irish whom they play at Castle Park next Saturday in the last league game.

Coach Clive Griffiths said: “I’m absolutely delighted for the boys. This has been a massive effort and the togetherness has got us through. We have grafted over the course of the season and have put in great shifts.

“We’ve had great support from the fans and overcome serious injuries, and against Jersey, we weathered a lot of mistakes and the whistle.

“Our defence came back strongly. Now that we are through to the play-offs, I will rest a few of the boys next weekend to give them some fresh air.”

Jersey, the in-form Championship side and finalists in the British and Irish Cup, battled non-stop, scoring a penalty try and a second at the end by replacement prop Jake

Armstrong.

But the losing bonus point and the Richmond result mean they narrowly fail to make the top four.

“The last few games have caught up with us. But we can celebrate this season and we’ve got the opportunity to win some silverware and how exciting is that,” says coach Harvey Biljon.

“Doncaster were full of energy and our discipline wasn’t very good. But what a game it was between two Championship teams fighting it out for a top four place. A great match for the neutral.”

Typical of the high quality were the rampaging runs of Jersey’s No.8 Nick Haining, the brilliant try by Doncaster winger Tyson Lewis who sprinted 60 metres to score their opening try, his 13th in the league, and the persistent build-up leading to Flockhart’s try, Doncaster’s second that supplied a 21-13 lead.

It was an advantage which they improved to secure fourth place and changing room celebrations.