Newcastle have made a perfect start to their maiden Championship
campaign with two bonus-point victories, while opponents Doncaster
are without a win following defeats to Plymouth and Bristol. Only
last month Newcastle comprehensively beat the Knights, 52-17, in a
pre-season friendly and it would be a shock if the tables were
turned at Kingston Park on Friday night.
Bedford entertain London Scottish the following day, while
Saturday's other fixtures are Jersey v Moseley and
Plymouth v Leeds. The Blues did the double over the Exiles in the
Championship last season, racking up over 40 points in each of the
games. Jersey and Moseley, both still searching
for their first 'W', have never met in the league before [in fact
Jersey have never played a competitive match
against any of this season's opponents], while Plymouth will be
looking for a repeat of last season's victory over Leeds at
Brickfields when they entertain the Yorkshire club in another 3
o'clock kick off.
There are two games to savour on Sunday, with Nottingham at home
to Rotherham Titans and Bristol up against Cornish Pirates at the
Memorial Stadium. Last season's corresponding fixture between
Nottingham and Rotherham ended in a 30-all draw. The Titans took
part in another high-scoring draw in Round 2, sharing the spoils
with Bedford in a 38-all thriller. Nottingham go into the match
having added Moseley to the scalp of Leeds to hand new head coach
Martin Haag a great start to his tenure at Meadow Lane.
The feature game of the weekend is the televised clash between
Bristol and the Pirates. Sky Sports' coverage of the Championship
kicks off with two of last season's semi-finalists going
head-to-head. The sides met five times in total in 2011/12, with
wins for the home side in each - three to Pirates and two to
Bristol. The Pirates last victory at the 'Mem' came way back in
February 2005. Wes Davies and Alan Paver are the only two survivors
from the starting line-up that day in the current squad.
Round 2 results
Doncaster Knights 8 - 18 Bristol Rugby
Leeds Carnegie 32 - 19 Jersey
London Scottish 32 - 49 Newcastle Falcons
Moseley 17 - 28 Nottingham Rugby
Cornish Pirates 19 - 17 Plymouth Albion
Rotherham Titans 38 - 38 Bedford Blues
Round 3 fixtures
Friday September 14
Newcastle Falcons v Doncaster Knights, KO 20.00
Saturday September 15
Bedford Blues v London Scottish, KO 15.00
Jersey v Moseley, KO 15:00
Plymouth Albion v Leeds Carnegie, KO 15:00
Sunday September 16
Nottingham Rugby v Rotherham Titans, KO 15:00
Bristol v Cornish Pirates, KO 15:15 (Live on Sky
Sports)
Text courtesy RFU
