LAST season it was the third period the Tigers were found wanting, this season it is becoming more and more the first, especially away from home, as was the case at Castle Park.

DONCASTER KNIGHTS 52

SEDGLEY PARK           17 

National League Division Two 

Just like the previous week away to Coventry, the Tigers found themselves caught napping straight from the kick-off, conceding four tries in the opening 20 minutes, with all but one converted to give the home side a 26-0 lead, thanks to Forster (2), Bailey and Carter, with stand-off mark Woodrow adding three kicks.

A penalty kick for field position followed by a lineout catch-and-drive saw Forster touchdown first, goaled by Woodrow, followed by a sweeping backs' move with the ball fed along the line at pace for winger Paul Bailey to go over in the corner.

Forster then crowned a 20-metre driving maul with his second touchdown, followed by fullback Anthony Carter ending another incisive backs’ move.

Two more touchdowns before halftime from Forster – making it a hat-trick – and Russell Earnshaw, along with a fourth conversion for Woodrow meant the Tigers turned around 38-0 behind.

It then got worse before it got better.

Within 11 minutes of the restart the Yorkshiremen stretched their lead to 52-0, thanks to further tries from Woodrow – a chip over the top and regather – and Kenworthy – a catch and drive maul from a lineout – both converted by Woodrow, and a cricket score looked on the cards.

However, the Tigers are nothing if not determined and Number 8 Jon Skurr, one of the major pluses of the season so far, went over twice within six minutes to make it 52-10, on both occasions popping up as the extra man out wide after Knights’ replacement Rob Worrincy had been yellow-carded.

Chris Hall then rounded off the scoring, grabbing a try in the 76^th minute, following a kick-and-chase to the posts, goaled by Jones. Unfortunately he broke a hand in the process.

Three tries in 15 minutes was some reply, bearing in mind the fact the Knights had only conceded three in the whole of November!

So the Tigers finished the stronger of the two and almost grabbed the four-try bonus point. It was a pity they did not start as strongly, maybe then they would have had more of a look-in.

Apart from the defeat, Hall’s injury was unfortunately not the only setback, as youngster Phil Largan will be out for a few weeks with a bad shoulder injury.  

DONCASTER KNIGHTS: Carter, Bailey (Worrincy 19), Davies, Cannon, Van Vuuren, Woodrow (Benson 62), Jones (Scully 60), Ta’u, S. Boden (Plevey 60), Rawson, Kenworthy, Gross (D. Cook 55), Grainger, Forster (O. Cook 50), Earnshaw Replacement not used: Bunting. Tries: Forster (3, 13, and 28), Bailey (5), Carter (20), Earnshaw (37), Woodrow (42), Kenworthy (51). Conversions: Woodrow 6.Yellow cards: Worrincy, 65.

SEDGLEY PARK: Wilkinson (T. Albinson 75), Hall, Briers, Duffy (Largan 52), Voortman, Jones, J. Albinson, Roberts, Roddam (Keys 26), Evans, Fourie, Lloyd, Newton (Senior 52), Ponton (Livesey 67), Skurr. Replacements not used: Gazzola, De Jager. Tries: Skurr (61, 67) and Hall (76). Conversions: Jones 1.