Doncaster 45-12 Nottingham (RFU Championship) 11.12.21

After last weekend’s home game with Jersey was called off just hours ahead of kick off on Friday afternoon, it was a short trip up the A1 for Nottingham today, who were looking to bounce back from the Blues and improve on their last match at Bedford when they were beaten 40-9 two weeks ago.

Rusty from lack of action last weekend perhaps, things didn’t quite go to plan for Craig Hammond’s side, a try to Doncaster after 17 minutes by Volpi was converted by former Archer Alex Dolley and less than ten minutes later the score was doubled in the hosts advantage, this time Edgson going over before Dolley again grabbed the extras.

Evans made it 19-0 shortly after the half hour before Edgson went over again on the stroke of half time, the home side leading at the break, 24-0.

A stop start opening to the second half which saw a number of substitutions and a couple of injuries meaning for large stoppages in the first twelve minutes meant for a scrappy affair, before the home side got back into their swing and ran in over the line with a good conversion increasing their lead to thirty-one.

Nottingham did immediately respond to finally get on the scoresheet themselves, McNulty going over before Hollingsworth kicked the extras but on the hour, that 31-point lead was re-installed, Will Holling rolling over in the maul with McBryde kicking the extras.

That’s how it stayed until the final minute when what we thought was one last press by Doncaster, was rewarded with another seven points as Holden went over before the extras were again kicked, but Nottingham restarted ahead of the whistle and got in themselves as Graham crossed the line for a little bit of pride restored, before Hollingsworth missed the conversion in the ninth minute of injury time.

In the end it was a comfortable home win for the side in fourth whilst Nottingham, disappointing to say the least, stay second bottom with defeat.

Starting Team: Jack Stapley, David Williams, Charlie Thacker, Morgan Bunting, Joe Browning, Elliot Bale, Matt Marsh, Aniseko Sio, Jake Farnworth, Ben Betts, Jack Ramshaw, Scott Hall, George Cox, Lewis Barrett, Suvwe Obano.

Replacements: Storm Hanekom, Toby Williams, Josh McNulty, Jacob Wright, Nathan Tweedy, Harry Graham, Sam Hollingsworth, James Peachey.

*Main image @NottinghamRugby Craig Hammond’s side well beaten in Doncaster.