Knights invade York

Doncaster Knights under 9’s

Sunday saw the Onedrywash and Autoglass^® sponsored Doncaster Knights under 9’s head up the A19 to York for another festival of rugby. This was a great chance to challenge ourselves against new opposition with teams travelling from Cheshire , Lancashire and beyond. And challenged we were, the first game saw the team draw with a strong Chester team and despite loosing their captain at half time to a Knee injury, the boys battled away and conceded a late try for the draw.

Between games, the boys decided they could take on the world, and boosted by the recovery of captain BJ, the team threw everything at the rest of the day. Unfortunately there were some really strong teams on display, and the knights despite 100% effort from everyone just failed to make the knock out stages of the festival. The lads were gutted at first, but a reminder from the coaches about the rules of the team soon saw everyone with a smile back on their faces and remembering what a great day playing rugby they had had.

This is a team who are building in confidence every week, and learning their craft. They will go on to have some great times together and who knows they may even pick up a trophy or two along the way, and some of them may grace out TV screens in years to come – Well done boys – Keep up the hard work !!

Who is the Mystery Player?

Sunday saw the Onedrywash and Autoglass^® sponsored Doncaster Knights under 9’s hard at work. They were training for the 3 remaining festivals this season, looking to improve on the runners up spot at their home festival last week.

Guess who!!

During training, this shot was captured of one of the players ‘hiding’ away – but who is it? The first person to email the coaches with the correct answer will win a mystery prize – will it be you?

Good Luck !!

Don’t forget to watch this space for an update on the Knights’ progress after Easter.

Good luck to the Knights

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Sunday sees the Onedrywash and Autoglass®-sponsored Doncaster Knights under 9’s take on all comers in their annual festival of junior rugby at Castle Park. The festival has a proud tradition of fun for everyone, and being played at Castle Park – the home of the most promoted rugby team in English rugby history - gives it a special edge.

We will field 2 teams this weekend, reds and blues, both of whom will be proud to carry the name of OneDrywash on their chests. Team captain BJ and Joe have both said they are really excited and hope to do the club, their families and the OneDrywash name proud.

Good luck to the boys – if you are in the area, games start at 10:30am, why not come along and offer your support? If not, watch this space for a festival update next week.
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Knights continue their winning ways

As was always the plan this season, the Onedrywash and Autoglass^® sponsored Doncaster Knights under 9’s have worked very hard at the transition from TAG to contact rugby. There was never a rush to ‘win games at any cost’, we wanted to make sure the boys got to grips with the game step by step, and despite the weather since Christmas, that plan is coming to fruition with the side undefeated in the second half of the season so far.

Owain gets his instructions from the sideline

Sunday saw the visit of Old Brodlians to the castle, and the Knights wasted no time in putting them to the sword racing into an early lead with almost the first play of the game. The team worked really hard and pressured Old Brods into mistake after mistake allowing them to kick on for a great win. Player of the day – Scrum half Ol really directed his troops and with a couple of tries to his name took the game by the scruff of the neck. Captain BJ and the rest of his backs line put into practice what they have been learning, and managed to keep the scoreboard ticking over for an impressive win.

Ol encourages the ref!

Game 2 saw a complete change of playing personnel for the Knights and a renewed enthusiasm from Old Brods, but some determined running from Conor and aggressive ‘wrestling’ from Fraser saw the knights hang in there until game 2 captain Joe popped up on the wing to race in for a try to tie up the game.

Clear the way - Conor on the move!

This was a fantastic day for the team – showing how focussed they have remained throughout the long winter – well done boys – keep it up!!

Mark Howe
Central Support Manager, Retail Repair
Autoglass^®

Cold Weather Training for the Knights

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Sunday 31st January saw all games called off for the Autoglass^® and Onedrywash^® sponsored Doncaster Knights under 9’s, but not to be out smarted by the weather, the team found a spare bit of land behind the pitches and spent a couple of hours running through their drills. Plenty of passing, running, lineouts, and break down practice was the order of the day.

Cold weather training!

Thanks to everyone who was able to make it; here’s hoping the weather improves this week so we can get some practice before our second trip to Leeds Carnegie this season.
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The Sponsors come to visit

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From left to right: Mark Hillyer, Autoglass® territory manager
for the north, captain BJ and vice-captain Oliver
(receiving their shirts), SJ Khebbal, Onedrywash CEO

Ben applauds man of the match Jack

One Drywash and Autoglass®-sponsored Doncaster Knights under 9’s match report

Sunday saw SJ make one of his now famous waterlogged trips North. Everytime he has been to see the boys over the last couple of seasons, it has rained, been cold and generally very unwelcoming!

Fear not – the boys decided to make it a day to remember, and with the visit of Sheffield Tigers who act as a feeder club to the first team, they set about putting the many pieces of the jigsaw together all in one game. All season, we have done different things really well as a team, but today – as if to honour the water logged SJ, the boys put everything together in one game, and it was fabulous to watch.

Eventual player of the week – Jack - scored his first, and then second tries of the season.

Jack finally crosses the line

Top Tackler, Dan, lead by example. Harry and Lewi celebrated their birthdays with a massive effort for the team, and the Captain himself – BJ, seems to be settling into his new role at Stand Off, and at last finding some space to open the backs up for a run.

BJ tiptoes through the land of the giants!

Thomas (pictured below) is so used to beating opposition players, he has now mastered it with his eyes shut!

He's so good, Thomas can do it with his eyes closed

It was a cold, wet and muddy day for everyone, particularly our visitor from the South, but we were all warmed through by this massive effort from the boys, who never once moaned about the conditions, and did everything that was asked of them. Days like this are what rugby is made of, and we, as coaches, were proud to be a part of it.

Well done boys !!

Mark Howe
Central Support Manager, Retail Repair
Autoglass®
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A day in the country

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Thomas checks the grounding!

KICKABOUT!

Conor hangs on

BJ launches his back line

Sunday saw the One Drywash and Autoglass®-sponsored Doncaster Knights under 9’s head out to the countryside with a first-ever trip to Market Rasen.

Having squeezed into the smallest changing room on record, the boys couldn’t wait to get out into the country air and get stuck in. After a thorough warm up, the boys set about trying to overturn the unwanted record of losing the first game each week! Last week's training really looked to have paid off as the forwards set about doing the work that had earned them the nickname of the ‘donkies’ and they worked hard to secure plenty of ball to make the backs look good and, but for a couple of missed tackles, the knights gave their best performance of the season but were once again just edged out.

We made several changes for the second game, including some positional ones but were able to pick up where we left off, and for the first time this season, we rolled the ball through several phases and took the lead in a game.

Not for long though. As the boys were still patting each other on the back and enjoying their moment, the Rasen boys picked up the tempo and again a couple of missed tackles cost the Knights. The game continued to go back and forth, but some excellent handling and brilliant running saw Conor go close, before Thomas ran almost onto the next door pitch to score and secure another game-2 win.

Next week sees the visit of Sheffield Tigers to Castle Park and I know we are all looking forward to more of the great attacking play we saw today, especially as SJ is coming to watch!! Well done to everyone, and a special mention to Thomas as top tackler, Conor as top metre maker, Owain for an outstanding effort for the team and BJ who was player of the week.

Good luck for next week boys.

Mark Howe
Central Support Manager, Retail Repair
Autoglass®
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Knights update

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Stand clear - forwards on the loose!

Ease up Jack, I'm on your side!

Sunday was due to see the One Drywash and Autoglass®-sponsored Doncaster Knights under 9’s take on big local rivals Rotherham Titans in an attempt to overturn the first team's narrow loss the previous day. Unfortunately, the Titans were unable to field a team, and the Knights got the opportunity to take on a tough training session under the autumn sun.

Whilst the boys love to play, it is important during this massive year of transition that they get the chance to work on the new skills without the pressure of an opposition, and that’s exactly what we did.

Today was about getting the team working for each other, understanding more about the different roles of forwards and backs – the main one being the pretty coloured boots and the great looking hair sported by most of the backs, as opposed to the up and at ‘em mentality of the forwards.

We spent the morning looking at how the forwards could win, steal, and/or secure ball and give the backs the best opportunity to show their lovely boots to the crowd as they ran past. We included a couple of the Rotherham players who had turned up, and they introduced some exciting new thoughts which helped the Knights fire up. After an hour, we re-introduced the backs to the forwards, and ran through some game scenarios. The forwards rucked and mauled for all their worth, and the backs had space to run and let the wind whistle through their flowing locks.

Fraser celebrates his Player of the Day Award with a small blackcurrant!

This was an important session for the boys in terms of understanding the differences in the roles but more importantly how they fit together on game day, and we as coaches were really proud of their achievements.

Bring on game day next week so we can put it into practice.

Well done boys

Mark Howe
Central Support Manager, Retail Repair
Autoglass®
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Remembrance Sunday at Castle Park

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Lest we forget....

Sunday saw the One Drywash and Autoglass®-sponsored Doncaster Knights under 9’s host local rivals, Sheffield. The boys started with a minute's silence at 11am and a moment to remember those who have given their lives for our country.

Once the game got started, Doncaster did their best to hold onto a free-flowing hard-running Sheffield side, but seemed to come off second best in contact, and the one-man breaks from a very experienced looking scrum half were hard to track. Credit to the boys though; they battled right the way to the end of the game and gave their all for the cause.

Strictly Come Rugby!

The coaches spent some time talking about working as a team, and the pride of walking from the field with their heads held high, and being able to say they had given their all. We then made some changes and set about the task. The boys worked tirelessly and not for the first time this season (infact it's becoming a weekly event!!), the boys turned the defeat around, and the all-winning Sheffield side were held to their first draw of the season. The boys played with real passion and worked for each other, and it was great to see Ethan stand tall as player of the day, having rucked and mauled his way to near exhaustion !!!!

The effort from everyone in and around the team is really starting to pay off, and I am really proud to say I have been a part of the boys' development until now – good luck boys; keep working hard.
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Winter rugby at last !

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Get off me foot !!

Oh no you dont !!

World Gnome fishing championships - Hull 2009

We have been spoilt so far this season, playing deep into October in fabulous sunshine and balmy temperatures. But Sunday saw the first Winter rugby for the season, and for many of our new players, yet another step in their long rugby roads!

We headed down the M62 to Hull Ionians, and after 30 minutes in the dressing rooms, we decided we could hide no more and headed out on our expedition to the pitches. Not sure whether to run, paddle or swim, the boys reluctantly headed out. We had a good warm up and, despite the weather, we looked promising with some really slick handling – always a worry to the coaches when we look this good in warm up!

Eventually, Hull found their way to the pitch and we got started on the first of our 2 games for the day. The boys worked really hard and played exactly how they had been taught; just a shame that the opposition, and at times the referee, seemed to be playing a different game! It was a very physical and a very wet game, and I am only glad it wasn’t my turn to wash the shirts this week!

The boys battled well and kept plugging to the end, but weren’t really given the space to play by a ‘keen’ Hull side on a very small pitch, and we came off second best.

With water in places not to be mentioned, it would have been easy to call it a day and head back to the warm, but after a short huddle together, most of the knees had stopped knocking and the teeth stopped chattering so we decided to give it another go! This time, we offered to referee and the boys slotted back into the routine they know best – knocking down the big men and running hard and straight at the opposition. Some great team work and good passing saw the Onedrywash and Autoglass®-sponsored Knights under 9’s record another great victory and, for the second game in a row, turn defeat into victory against a powerful opposition. It was an outstanding effort by everyone, with the pieces of the jigsaw slowly starting to come together – watch this space!

Well done to 'Player of the Day': Oliver, 'Most Effort for the Team': Luis, 'Top Metre Maker': Thomas and 'Top Tackler': BJ.

Here’s hoping for less rain next week and a chance to show off some of those great skills.
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Latest from the Knights

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Together, we can!

Slllaaaapppp!!

Ready

I don't like to have to do this - but!!

Sunday 18th saw the Onedrywash and Autoglass®-sponsored Doncaster Knights under 9’s make the short trip up the A19 to Selby

It's always a tough trip, and as the winter viruses started to rob us of one or two players. It was looking harder by the minute. In game one, the first quarter was evenly matched, and the Knights tackling and desire seemed to have improved massively from last week, but eventually Selby broke the dead lock and with it, the Knights' hearts. The team battled well and got to half time still in touch with the opposition, but it was clear Selby wanted to inflict defeat on the auld enemy, and they kept coming. The forwards worked tirelessly and the 2 James’s ran at anyone and everyone, while Jack and Conor set about knocking down the Selby runners. The effort never stopped and the team was rewarded late on with a great solo effort from the Skipper.

Between games, the coaches talked to the players about belief and the feeling of having given their all. We talked about how Ian (sadly absent today due to an unplanned stay in hospital) would be twitching in his bed at the thought of the boys not enjoying themselves. All we asked was that they put a smile back on their faces and remembered "together we can".

The second game started very tightly again, but this time it was the Knights who got the upper hand as they looked to be settling back into their stride. Once again, the forwards set about ‘banging’ into people and now the backs found the confidence to start running and handling like we know they can. It was a fantastic effort and the reward was a well deserved – a massive turn around that every player should be proud of .

WELL DONE BOYS!
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Doncaster Knights Under 8’s - 3 out of 3!

Sponsored by Autoglass and Miracle Drywash

BJ scoring try number 5.
(He went on to add another 10 in the following game
and was awarded player of the week for his efforts.
He also scored 6 at Grimsby !!)

The squad before they went on at Headingley

We recently thrashed Grimsby; at Headingley we thrashed Guisborough and then we went to Nottingham and edged a great game by one try!!

Autoglass & Miracle Drywash sponsor the Doncaster Knights Under 8’s

Autoglass and Miracle Drywash are joint sponsors of the Doncaster Knights Under 8’s for the 2008/9 rugby season

The team played in 3 tournaments in the Yorkshire Rugby League last season, winning one, sharing another and narrowly missing out in their home competition. They suffered only a couple of defeats all season

Every Player was presented with an award for their outstanding

efforts in their first full season together

Ben (or BJ as his team mates call him) made the most appearances, never missing a game, and top scored with 111 tries. Henry, the vice captain, was only a few behind. The Under 8’s has provided mascots for the first team, and travelled all over Yorkshire to play last season.

Ben being presented with his Players Player
of the Season award by Ngalu Ta’u

Ben was awarded Players Player of the Season, as voted by his team mates (not bad for the captain to be so popular !!) by Ngalu Ta’u, Doncaster Knights’ First team prop from Tonga.

For more information on the team, visit: http://www.drfc.co.uk/OtherRugby/Junior/