We arrived twenty minutes before kick-off and headed for the Carnegie Terrace, our new home ‘til Christmas while they finish their gold prospecting under the South Stand. The Welsh Cakes arrived shortly afterwards, we were settled and ready for the game. 

It’s a shame that Leeds weren’t! Squinting into the sun we made out an exchange of kicks until 2 minutes gone when a Doncaster penalty was reversed in front of the posts and Jason Strange took the points easily. That was to be one of the few times Leeds ventured into the Donny half in the first period. Donny took control and passed the ball well behind a good and solid pack that made the Leeds scrum creak and, on occasion, go backwards. A passing cloud allowed us to see that Chris Hughes was playing wing for the Knights, welcome back Hughesy! 

Thankfully Jamie Lennard, the Doncaster fly half, had kicking issues and spurned three kickable penalties in the first 15 minutes. He also managed to miss with a drop goal attempt. Mr Pearson was being an ‘attentive’ referee and seemed over-keen on the holding on rule. Both sides were continually pinged for this, to the frustration of both sets of supporters. 

Eventually Strange decided that there were two halves of the field in which to play rugby producing a cracking kick downfield into the corner between the South and Carnegie Stands. Doncaster took the line-out and cleared to about 30m. Again Doncaster won the line-out and cleared further up field. Leigh Hinton took the ball on the edge of the Carnegie 22 and threw a long pass in-field towards Scott Barrow, this was intercepted by the Tongan centre, Hudson Tonga’uiha, who shook off the Leeds defence and ran in the first try of the game. Lennard must have changed his boots as he took the extra points for the conversion. 17 minutes gone and Doncaster were taking the game to Leeds, who appeared to think that the game was actually to be played on Sunday as normal. 

Rhys ‘Pudding’ Oakley soon found himself in the sin bin for allegedly tackling a man without the ball. This decision was later seen as odd when Doncaster themselves did the same thing far more obviously without the same punishment. The resulting penalty took the visitors into a 7 point lead. This advantage was extended by a drop goal after 25 minutes. 

The sun disappeared behind the South Stand on the half-hour and we could see much better, maybe Leeds would play better with the sun off their backs. ‘Country’ Myall lead the Leeds charge with a powerful run to half-way, forwards and backs then combined as Leeds swarmed up-field, the move ended when Hendre Fourie was harshly penalised for holding on a metre shy of the line under the posts. Someone said something to Mr Pearson and we were marched back another ten, for the first time this season if I remember rightly. 

Oakley was now back on the field and was putting himself about, a good run forward lead to the ball being thrown wide to Hepworth who lost it forwards. Doncaster were penalised at the scrum and Leeds chose to scrum again. This roused the home support and we bellowed our encouragement, maybe our team had woken up at last. 

On 37 minutes Hints made amends by scoring a try in the corner finishing off a good move, being fed by a lovely delayed long pass by Strange. Strange missed a difficult conversion kick, score was 8 – 13, but at least we’d got back into the game. Carnegie had played well for about 10 minutes, but decided to have a rest again. The Knights edged up the pitch and camped on Leeds’ try line, Donny applied great pressure but the line held, Hepworth got the ball and danced his way through a few tackles, he crabbed across left as he is prone to do but released the ball to Biggsy who ran on. Good interplay again and Shrek ploughed on up doing the hard work, what a player he is! The ball went out right along the line to Hints who was pulled down a yard short. The ball filtered back and Doncaster were caught offside, cynically so some of us thought. 

Leeds pressure told in the next passage of play as the Knights were eventually caught offside in front of the posts, a simple penalty goal for the Welsh fella. 

HT:      Leeds Carnegie 11 – 13 Doncaster Knights 

Second half saw Mike Cusack come on for the Knights, a welcome return to HC for the young prop. Leeds started well with Biggs chasing a kick to the corner and forcing ‘Shaggy’ Carter, the Knights full-back, into touch. 

Leeds’ line-out didn’t work again and Donny came away with the ball, frustration reigned. Wes Davies was soon binned for a very high tackle but Strange missed the resulting penalty, the ball not quite having the legs to get over the crossbar. Good work and hands by Rhys and Hendre got the ball out to Jonny again, but he didn’t back his pace to go wide and again cut inside, chance of a break was lost, but Leeds were getting on top. Another very high tackle went in by the Knights, but this time only punished by a penalty, perhaps it was too soon after the previous one for Mr Pearson to reach for his card again. Leeds kicked for touch in the corner and the resulting line-out was messy but the ball found its way back to Rawlinson on the touch-line and all he had to do was fall over the try line in the corner. Strange kicked an excellent conversion and we were now leading 18 – 13. 

Leeds were now playing with confidence, something had been said at half-time. Welding was sent out wide right at a set scrum and this was noticed by the Knights, Strange then kicked left and it was just too far ahead of the chasing Biggs. Problems at the resulting line-out saw another sin binning for the Knights and a penalty which Strange kicked easily. 

Leeds were now a score ahead and started to ring the changes, Mathie came on for Bedford. Doncaster came back upfield and looked to reduce the deficit with a penalty only to miss. More changes, JD and Saucy replaced Oakley and Barrow. Our centre was obviously keen to get off and learn the Everton score, poor lad. Fourie and McGee were then subbed by Clarke and Bucknall respectively. Leeds second half dominance was reflected when Hinton finally wiped out his earlier mistake with a second try. Strange confidently slotted the extras and Carnegie led 28 – 13. 

Vickerman took the field in place of Strange and HP moved across to number 10. Rawly had a rush of blood to the head and charged downfield making lots of ground only spoiling it with a long pass out wide that missed putting Welding through and instead found touch. Leeds tried to find the bonus point try but the clock won the race. 

FT:      Leeds Carnegie 28 – 13 Doncaster Knights 

As predicted Donny raised their game and came looking to end our unbeaten run. For the first half one could have been excused for being mistaken in thinking the Knights were title favourites. If they continue playing as well as they started this match they will shock a few decent sides, hopefully aiding our championship charge in the process.  

There was a notable change at half-time when the boys came out brimming with confidence, rising to the challenge as the coaching team had asked. There were spells of flowing coherent rugby, just a shame that they didn’t last. Bedford next week is another tough challenge as we aim to put right the wrongs of the first 40; mindful of the fact that they will be bruised from a home defeat courtesy of the Pirates. Let’s home that the boys can prepare well this week and deliver the goods as Kiwi seeks a win over his former club. 

Attendance: 3415

Sponsor’s Man of the Match: Hendre Fourie

Toptyke’s Man of the Match: Jason Strange 

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