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Big changes at Castle Park next season
DONCASTER Knights went into the closing weeks of last season battling for honours on two fronts only to be found wanting when it came to the crunch.
Knights, who had won there in the league earlier in the season, were heavily beaten by eventual winners Cornish Pirates in the semi-final of the British & Irish Cup.
They also missed out on a place in the semi-finals of the Championship promotion play-offs.
"I think that we were a spent force in the closing weeks of the season," admitted director of Rugby, Lynn Howells.
"I think the last game when we played to our potential was probably the win at Nottingham in the play-offs. After that it was us finished. After all that we had gone through I don't think that mentally we had anything left."
Knights failure to realise their dream of Premiership rugby for the first time in their history, coupled with budget cuts, means that a lot of familiar faces will be missing when the second season of Championship rugby kicks-off in September.
Forwards Glen Townson, Tom Davies, Bryn Griffiths and scrum-half Nicky Griffiths have all moved on to either Premiership or Magner's League rugby
"We seem to be losing players to higher-placed clubs on a regular basis at this time of the year," said Howells.
"But at least that shows that our recruitment is right and that our coaching methods are working.
"If we can keep doing that then we aren't far off where we should be.
"I can understand the players moving on.
"But we have lost quality players and we have to start to build again."
Several other players were released 'to enable the club to move forward.'
Others, including strong-running centre Bevon Armitage, couldn't agree terms.
Adding to the turnover at Castle Park is the retirement of fans' favourite Ngula Tau, and the decision of Simon Grainger and club captain Anthony Carter to concentrate on work commitments.
"It was disappointing to lose Bevon as it was Simon and Anthony," said Howells. "But it was the right time for Ngula, who has been a great servant to the club, to retire,"
Howells has already brought in four new players and has a number of other irons in the fire.
"Hopefully there will be some announcements made in the next few days."
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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