Titans make five changes for Yorkshire derby

Posted on Nov 18, 2011 in Championship, Doncaster, English Rugby, Rotherham Titans

Ahead of the big South Yorkshire derby, Andre Bester has made five changes to his starting 15 as they prepare to entertain Doncaster Knights, kick off 2pm at Clifton Lane.

The two changes in the backline sees Dave McCall make his Championship debut after impressing in last week’s B&I Cup match in Swansea. McCall will start at outside centre in place of Stephen Hamilton, there’s a spot on the bench for the latter. Jimmy Williams returns to the side at scrum half for Matt Rhodes who is also expected to be on the bench.

In the engine room Ted Stagg and Ben Hooper come back in for Dan Baines and Rob O’Donnell at hooker and tight head prop respectively, whilst Adrian Griffiths replaces Barney Maddison at lock.

Saturday’s encounter promises to be a tight, uncompromising affair with both sides enjoying a successful season and a bigger than usual attendance is anticipated at Clifton Lane. The league head to head between the two sides sees the visitors with a healthy 11-3 advantage, although last seasons corresponding fixture saw Titans edge a 35-34 thriller.

Looking ahead to Doncaster’s visit, Head Coach Andre Bester is acutely aware of the threat that Titans near-neighbours will pose, Bester stated, “We anticipate a very tough match against Doncaster with immense physicality. All of these derby matches that I’ve been involved in has always been very tough. We know it’s going to be a tough match up front, we know it’s going to be very physical at the breakdown.

“You only need to look at their squad to realise how experienced they are from 9 to 13 and they also have very experienced guys in the pack.
We are aware that we have a tough assignment in front of us.

“We had a particular poor showing by our standards last time out against Pirates, although the score line did not reflect the match itself. But we now need to set the record straight and show what we are made of.

“We are not a form side; we want to be a side that can have consistency of performances. That is what Championship rugby is about, consistency of performance. I’m not looking for million dollar performances, I’m just looking for solid performances from each and every individual within the team and then the result will look after itself.

“We do have a level of consistency, but within certain matches we have lacked that consistency on occasions.

“I always liken these South Yorkshire derby’s to tribal warfare. We all like to look at ourselves as part of the ‘Republic of Yorkshire’
and who’s going to have the upper hand over whom, and this is as intense a derby as you are likely to see anywhere in rugby.

“There are many people at both clubs which take this match as very personal. You can almost lose every other game, but you need to make sure you beat your rival on the other side of the hill.

“For our clubs supporters the Doncaster game is very important. They are the people that have been coming here for many years to this club and this is the one match that we will play for them.”
Titans: 15 Tom Foden, 14 Ed Tellwright, 13 Dave McCall, 12 Pale Nonu, 11 Shane Monahan, 10 Garry Law, 9 Jimmy Williams, 1 Shane Cahill, 2 Ted Stagg, 3 Ben Hooper, 4 Sam Dickinson (Capt.), 5 Adrian Griffiths, 6 Robin Copeland, 7 Sean Dougall, 8 Semisi Taulava.

Replacements From: 16 Dan Baines, 17 Jamie Kilbane, 18 Rob O’Donnell, 19 Barney Maddison, 20 Steve Hamilton, 21 Matt Rhodes, 22 Cliffie Hodgson, 23 Carl Kirwan, 24 Byron Godfrey.

Ulster Ravens name experience XV to meet Doncaster

Posted on Nov 10, 2011 in Irish Rugby, Ulster

Ravens coach Gary Longwell has named an experienced team to take on Doncaster in their opening British & Irish Cup game on Friday evening at Deramore Park.

Eleven of the starting XV have played for the senior team in a competitive fixture, while the other four were all involved in pre-season friendly against Neath.

Callum Black is named at loosehead prop as he continues his efforts to return to the senior squad following a neck injury earlier in the season. He is joined by experienced hooker Nigel Brady and 22 year old development prop Adam Macklin. Neil McComb will partner Tim Barker in the second row, while Ali Birch, Mike McComish and Robbie Diack will combine in a dynamic back row.

Ballymena’s Blane McIlroy and Dungannon’s Paddy Jackson will form the half back pairing, with Phoenix Academy player Chris Farrell partnering the experienced Ian Whitten in the centre. Academy trio Chris Cochrane, Michael Allen and Peter Nelson will make up an exciting back three.

Ireland U20 captain Niall Annett is among those among the replacements, which is largely drawn from the Academy.

Two familiar faces will return to Ulster in the shape of Doncaster fullback David McIlwaine and flanker David Bradford, who both left the Province in the summer.

Longwell is glad to be able to call on a few experienced names: “We have been training well and the combinations are looking sharp. Having that sort of quality in our pack will hopefully provide our youthful back with a good platform to launch off. We expect Doncaster to be physical up front and we know they have the ability to hurt us if we don’t play to our potential.”

Ulster Ravens XV & Replacements to face Doncaster (British & Irish Cup, Deramore Park, Belfast, kick off 7.30pm)

(1-8): Callum Black, Nigel Brady, Adam Macklin, Tim Barker, Neil McComb, Ali Birch, Mike McComish, Robbie Diack

(9-15): Blane McIlroy, Paddy Jackson, Chris Cochrane, Chris Farrell, Ian Whitten, Michael Allen, Peter Nelson

(16-22): Niall Annett, Conor Carey, James Simpson, Sean O’Connell, Michael Heaney, James McKinney, Ricky Andrew

Doncaster Knights (15-9): Lee Audis Tom Luke, Michael Bateman, PJ Gidlow, Fred Burdon, Ben Toft, David McIlwaine,

(1-8): Andy Brown, Jack Yeandle, Royce Burke Flynn, Glen Kenworthy, Dominic Parsons, Andy Boyde, David Bradford, Michael Noone

(16-22): Tom Davies, Stuart Corsar, Matt Challinor, Chris Planchant, Zack Farivarz Oli Goss Dougie Flockhart

Admission is £10 for a family, £7 for an adult and £3 for kids. Everyone welcome and there is food available from the clubhouse.

Doncaster get ready for Welsh challenge

Posted on Nov 4, 2011 in Championship, Doncaster, English Rugby

Doncaster Knights set upon a three match defining period Saturday against fourth placed London Welsh at Castle Park (2:30pm Kick Off).

The Exiles have made an elusive start to the season; sitting in pole position before the last two games, but DOR Brett Davey believes the key to their chances is in their own hands.

“They’re a very well-coached side, but we’re going to focus on ourselves – it’s looking like we’ll be facing damp conditions, but we’ve done well in poor weather already this season so we’re confident.”

Doncaster go into the game on the back of a fine 29-20 victory over Esher last week, running in four tries as they showcased their attacking abilities. But the Welshman highlighted their defensive prowess as their essential strength.

“We were good defensively, our work rate was good and we kept our discipline and composure. It’ll be a frantic game at times against Welsh, so we need all these things to be in place.”

Davey has made his fewest team changes so far this season between two league matches – just two – and says he faced a tough task in picking his side with so much competition for places.

“It was a very hard selection process this week and I spent a lot of time discussing in depth positions and players with my coaching staff. Some players are missing out but they will get their chance again because our whole squad is committed to their rugby.

“We have given Michael Bateman his first place on a Championship bench – he’s been working hard in training and deserves his chance.

“Our new signing, Fred Burdon, has also been impressive; he’s bedded in very well with the team and selection is getting closer for him.”

Welsh drew against Cornish Pirates last week and will be looking to bounce back with a win, but Davey’s Knights are up for the challenge of denying them victory.

Kick-off is at 2:30pm and anyone buying a single ticket is entitled to FREE admittance for their accompanying friend – so get down to Castle Park for an explosive fixture.

Knights starting line-up:

15 David McIlwaine
14 Dougie Flockhart
13 Oli Goss
12 PJ Gidlow
11 Michael Keating
10 Tom Luke
9 Chris Hallam
1 Stuart Corsar
2 Steve Boden
3 Alex Brown
4 Matt Challinor
5 Glen Kenworthy
6 Latu Makaafi
7 Zack Farivarz
8 Chris Planchant

16 Tom Davies
17 Jack Yeandle
18 Dominic Parsons
19 Andy Boyde
20 Michael Noone
21 Lee Audis
22 Michael Bateman

London Welsh make three changes for trip to Doncaster

Posted on Nov 4, 2011 in Latest Rugby News

London Welsh head coach Lyn Jones makes three changes for the Exiles’ trip to Doncaster Knights on Saturday (2:30pm).

Fresh from kicking three late penalties to give Welsh a 17-17 draw against the Cornish Pirates at Old Deer Park last Saturday, fly half Alex Davies will make his first Championship start for the Exiles since joining the club in the summer from Plymouth Albion.

There’s one other change in the backs with Joe Ajuwa coming in for Will Hurrell on the right wing. Ajuwa has scored two tries in his two Championship appearances for the Exiles so far this season, against Esher and Moseley, to go with another in the win over London Scottish in the British & Irish Cup.

The only change in the forwards comes in the front row, with Saul Nelson replacing the injured Dan George at hooker. It will be Nelson’s second Championship start of the season, having started in the 34-23 win over Nottingham at Old Deer Park on September 24.

On the bench, Welsh welcome back prop James Tideswell, following a lengthy spell out through injury, for his first appearance since the Nottingham game.

With Ross starting on the bench and club captain Jonathan Mills still sidelined, Lee Beach takes over the captain’s armband.

Castle Park has been a happy hunting ground for the Exiles in recent years, but they’ll be hoping they don’t run it quite as close as last season’s January 2 meeting when Stephen McColl’s penalty from the game’s last play came back off the crossbar, allowing Welsh to escape with a 21-19 victory.

It was the Exiles’ third consecutive win at Castle Park, after Welsh won twice at Doncaster in the 2009/10 season. They came out on top 17-10 in the regular season and then won 31-14 in round 6 of the play-offs to clinch a semi-final meeting with Bristol.
London Welsh: 15. Edd Thrower, 14. Joe Ajuwa, 13. Hudson Tonga’uiha*, 12. Simon Whatling, 11. James Lewis, 10. Alex Davies, 9. Rob Lewis, 1. Shawn Pittman*, 2. Saul Nelson, 3. Billy Moss, 4. Adam Brown, 5. Martin Purdy, 6. Lee Beach © , 7. Mike Denbee, 8. Ed Jackson.

Replacements: 16. Vili Ma’asi*, 17. James Tideswell, 18. Matt Corker, 19. Ben Russell, 20. Ben Stevenson, 21. Gordon Ross*, 22. Seb Jewell.

* Denotes full international

Page backs Esher to turn over new leaf

Posted on Oct 28, 2011 in Latest Rugby News

By MARK BENGOECHEA:

Manager Dave Page is backing Esher to end their nightmare run in Saturday’s home clash with Doncaster Knights.

The Surrey side are rooted to the foot of the Championship after eight successive defeats and have failed to collect a solitary bonus point.

But Page insists the attacking flair Esher showed in Sunday’s 34-18 reverse at second-placed Cornish Pirates has lifted spirits ahead of the Knights showdown.

Canada World Cup star Phil Mackenzie capped a fine individual display with a try while an earlier score from hooker Kevin Corrigan edged Esher into an 18-17 half-time lead.

But Esher, with Charlie Walker impressing on the wing, also missed two gilt-edged chances in the second half and in the end of Pirates’ powerful set-piece proved decisive.

Page insisted: "That was the best attacking rugby we have produced all season and we should have scored a couple more tries.

"It was a great try from Mackenzie. His return has been a big plus and Andy Wright is playing so much better with him alongside.

"Mackenzie is such a talented player. He has added that spark and it is starting to come together now and we really believe somebody will be on the end of a hiding.

"But I appreciate it’s all very well saying that. We have got to put the all-round performance together in attack and defence.

"We have got a great bunch of guys and they are all hurting from this run. But they all believe they can get out of it and are all still upbeat.

"We haven’t had any easy games in this run and have obviously been suffering from a lack of players with so many injuries.

"But I firmly believe the next four games against Doncaster, London Scottish, Leinster in the British and Irish Cup and Leeds at home are all winnable."

Esher are boosted by the availability of dual-registered Harlequins player Charlie Matthews for the Doncaster match.

England Under-20s lock Matthews, whose dad Stephen also played for Esher, has been a regular at Quins this season but is in line for his debut.

Esher have also added to their firepower up front with the loan signing of prop Cameron Zeiss from Leeds.

The 21-year-old South African-born player’s chances at Headingley are expected to be limited following the return of United States prop Mike MacDonald from World Cup duty.

But Esher have suffered a big blow with the news that centre Tom Cheeseman is expected to be out until the New Year.

The former Bath and Harlequin star impressed on his return from a knee injury last month only to suffer a torn pectoral muscle in the defeat by Bristol.

Esher team v Doncaster

15 Kirby
14 Walker
13 Mackenzie P
12 Wright
11 Edgerley
10 Atkinson
9 Stuart – Smith
8 Goodman
7 Stitcher
6 Kench
5 Matthews
4 Parker
3 Boot
2 Mackie
1 Mines
16 Corrigan
17 Zeiss
18 MacFarlane
19 Synnott
20 Mackenzie J
21 Ingall
22 Mill