Championship Play-Off Finals

Game 1

Date: Wednesday 18th May
Time: 19:45
Location: Castle Park, Doncaster
TV: Sky Sports 2


Team News

Bristol:

Luke Arscott; Tom Varndell, Jack Tovey, Ben Mosses, David Lemi (c); Callum Sheedy, Will Cliff; Jack O’Connell, Ross McMillan, Anthony Perenise, Ian Evans, Ben Glynn, Marco Mama, Jack Lam, James Phillips.
Replacements: Chris Brooker, Kyle Traynor, Gaston Cortes, Mark Sorenson, Olly Robinson, Martin Roberts, Matthew Morgan.

David Lemi captains a side that includes four Academy graduates and current Academy fly half Callum Sheedy. Championship player of the season Jack Lam lines up in the back row, while the recipient of last season’s award – Matthew Morgan – is included among the replacements.


Doncaster Knights:

15) Paul Jarvis, 14) Andy Bulumakau, 13) Mat Clark, 12) Will Hurrell, 11) Tyson Lewis, 10) Dec Cusack, 9) Michael Heaney, 1) Richard List, 2) Ben Hunter, 3) Colin Quigley, 4) Matt Challinor, 5) Jon Phelan, 6) Latu Makaafi, 7) Michael Hills ©, 8) Alex Shaw

Replacements; 16) Vili Veikoso, 17) Riccardo Brugnara, 18) WillGriff John, 19) Ollie Stedman, 20) Glen Young, 21) Dougie Flockhart, 22) Brad Field

For the third game running the Knights will stick with the same starting XV; having successfully defeated Yorkshire Carnegie 44-34 over two legs. Dougie Flockhart is the sole change on the bench, the Knights top-scorer is included in place of Tigers fly-half Ollie Bryant.

Well, Bristol take a decent lead into their home leg next week. Doncaster spent most of the game defending, so despite leading at half time rapidly tired.

Only got to see bits and pieces of the first half. Don't know whether it was the camera angle but some of the play looked slow. Neither team dealt with rolling mauls at all well (Bristol went from the halfway line to the 22 in the middle of the pitch).

Did Donny just wear out in the 2nd half and Bristol had superior fitness?

Doncaster seemed shot in the second half, physically and mentally. Bristol domintaed first half in all but scoreboard - silly errors/penalties from the more experienced players (especially Evans and Varndell) hurt.

Donny were defending for the majority of the match and did tire. Too many silly mistakes though and didn't look comfortable with the additional pressure. They played much better than that against Bristol a few weeks ago. With a bit of pressure off in the 2nd leg it's not quite over, but a bit of a mountain to climb.