Rugby union: Knights breeze past Hull

Doncaster Knights ran in ten tries to finish off a strong pre-season with a comfortable 67-0 win over Hull RFC.

Knights, who open their National One campaign against Blackheath on Saturday, took little time to get off the mark as Michael Hills powered over down the right in the third minute. Paul Roberts fired in the conversion for 7-0.

Clive Griffiths’ side soon went 14-0 ahead when Mat Clark was given the easiest of tasks to touch down from a perfectly-timed Paul Jarvis off-load, Roberts added the extras at Castle Park.

Concerns were raised over the injury of Tom Davies who limped off from the field just before Knights added their third try following a Doncaster line-out.

That score came after National Two side Hull failed to cope with the strength of the Knights and the industrious Hills drove over to add his second of the game.

Roberts dragged his conversion wide as the scoreboard remained 19-0.

Four minutes later Clark out-paced his marker to touch down after Samoan star Paul Eti-Slater delayed his pass to perfection and released the Knights winger down the left flank to score with just 28 minutes gone.

A Roberts missed kick saw Doncaster lead 24-0.

Three minutes later Bevon Armitage got his name on the scoresheet after Knights displayed slick passing along the line before he touched down. However, Roberts failed to add the extras.

Knights were not finished in the first half as Clark claimed his hat trick try in his usual, fast-paced style as he raced down the left and rode the hopeful Hull challenges. Roberts’ missed conversion saw Griffiths’ men lead at the interval 34-0.

Louis Spencer was first to strike for Doncaster after the restart, touching down at the back of a driving line-out. Again, Roberts missed the target as Knights’ score stayed at 39-0 with 36 minutes left to play.

Clark soon added his fourth try of the game and Knights changed their kicker to great effect as Dougie Flockhart converted his first attempt for 46-0.

Despite Hull managing to stifle further Doncaster attacks for a spell, the Knights saw another try scored as replacement Adam Kettle crashed over and Flockhart converted to make it 53-0.

Flockhart then added a try of his own after good work from James Munro and Jarvis. The scorer then converted the kick for 60-0.

Flockhart scored his second before converting to finish off the Doncaster rout at 67-0.

See this week’s Doncaster Free Press for a Doncaster Knights team poster.

Rugby union: Knights breeze past Hull