Man Met through to quarter finals with victory over Doncaster
- Man Met easy victory to secure cup progression
- Two tries for Man Met flanker Jones in great team display
- 'Defensive performance, shape, organisation and line speed won the game'
Man Met’s rugby union first XV battled their way through to the next round of the BUCS Trophy Cup, beating Doncaster Knights Academy side by 28-5.
After failing for promotion next season, Man Met looked to return to winning ways at home against the Yorkshire-based side.
In a game filled with physicality and big hits, Man Met’s openside flanker Jones impressed at Platt Lane, scoring two tries and adding a number of important runs and tackles.
The game did not start as Man Met head coach Rob Jones would have wanted, with a try leaked early on, and Doncaster gaining a 5-0 lead within five minutes.
A good break from Doncaster’s fullback Jack Townsend allowed him to offload to Sam Nunn to open the scoring. Kieran Nicholson missed the conversion for Doncaster.
Man Met soon replied with hooker Gallagher crossing the line to equal the scoring, the conversion going wide.
Man Met’s fullback knocked over two penalties before the play of the game, coming from Man Met openside flanker Jones, who scored his first try in superb fashion.
A nice switch in play gave him space on the halfway line and after crossing the gain line he managed to beat the fullback, completing a tremendous 50m try. The try was converted by Rice to send Man Met in 18-5 up at the break.
Man Met started the second half strongly as Jones went over in the 44th minute for his second of the game, again converted by Rice.
They controlled the game well from there on in with Rice adding one more penalty in the 75th minute to ensure victory and send Man Met through to the next round.
Assistant coach Carl Fox said after the game “We expected a difficult challenge with them being the Doncaster Knights Academy and they didn’t let us down. I think it was our defensive performance, shape, organisation and line speed that won the game. We nilled them in the second half and we only conceded one score early on. We’re really happy with the defensive performance and we’re through to the quarter finals in two weeks.”