Bedford Blues 29 Doncaster Knights 5: Travel sick Knights second best at Bedford

Doncaster Knights may have turned things around at Castle Park since the turn of the year but they are still looking for their first away win in 2020.
By Steve Hossack
Published 1st Mar 2020, 11:22 BST
Updated 3rd Mar 2020, 11:52 BST
Chalie Foley scored Doncaster's try.Chalie Foley scored Doncaster's try.
Chalie Foley scored Doncaster's try.

Disappointing Knights never looked like putting the record straight at Goldington Road as Bedford Blues romped home 29-5 to claim their fourth successive home win.

Knights could have no complaints about the result and had to settle for an unconverted try by Charlie Foley midway through the second half by which time the result was a foregone conclusion.

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Back in his more familiar role of centre after standing in for fly-half Sam Olver in the Championship Cup defeat at Nottingham last time out, Foley forced his way over from close range after several strong carries by the forwards including stand-in captain Ben Hunter, in the Bedford 22.

Showing six changes to the side beaten 38-5 at second-placed Ealing a fortnight earlier, Bedford opened the scoring with an early penalty by fly-half Sam Leeming.

Knights, who gave a starting debut to Tongan international centre Penikolo Latu, fell further behind on 13 minutes when Joe Atkinson touched down from close range for a converted try after Tyson Lewis had done well to stop speedy centre Oskar Hirskyj-Douglas in full flight only to see him offload in the tackle to the back-rower.

Hooker Robbie Smith touched down from a rolling maul which had started on the Doncaster 22 to earn his side a 17-0 interval lead despite having played up the slope and into the wind.

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Knights’ hopes of salvaging a result in the second half suffered an early setback when wing Ryan Hutler rounded off a superb move within three minutes of the restart. Knights fell further behind following a quick tap by scrum-half Grayson Hart which secured his side a try bonus point.

That Bedford, for whom back-rower Huw Worthington bombed a great chance, didn’t add to their tally in the in the final quarter owed much to Knights showing a better attitude than earlier in the game.

Knights could have had a second try had former Blues’ scrum-half Tom James not lacked support in the Bedford 22 after making a 60m break.

Knights: Cowell, Evans, Foley, Latu, Lewis , Olver, James; Thomas, Hunter, Quigley, Romaine, Eames, Lokotui, Conradie, Volpi. Rep: Holling, Foster, Suter, Edgson, Hills, Pocklington, Hayes, Roberts

Related topics:Bedford BluesCastle Park