Doncaster Knights v Bristol: Keep the game tight - Heaney

Scrum half Michael Heaney has stressed the importance of Doncaster Knights staying on Bristol's coattails - at the very minimum.
Michael Heaney. Photo: John AshtonMichael Heaney. Photo: John Ashton
Michael Heaney. Photo: John Ashton

Heaney’s partnership with Declan Cusack has played a vital role in the most successful season in the club’s history and will be pivotal to their chances of beating Bristol over two legs in the Championship play-off final, the first of which will be staged at a packed Castle Park tomorrow.

“It’s obviously very important that we keep the game tight in the first leg and try and make sure that if we are not leading then we are still in contention,” he said.

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“That’s what Carnegie did in the semi-final first leg when scoring two late tries at Headingley after being well behind.

“We’ve beaten Bristol down there in the league and we’ll be confident going down there again having won or even being a few points adrift.

“They needed a last-minute try to beat us up here in the return so we’ve shown that we’ve got the game to beat them.

“They’ve got more experience of play-off rugby and that is probably going to help them – though losing in the last two finals could count against them.

“We know they’ve got some very good players, but we’ve got a fantastic group of lads and whilst we might not have big names we’ve got a tremendous team spirit.”