Doncaster Knights: Clive Griffiths sets points target for final three league games

Doncaster Knights will be bidding to regain third spot in the Championship this weekend.
Paul Jarvis, pictured in action against Yorkshire Carnegie.Paul Jarvis, pictured in action against Yorkshire Carnegie.
Paul Jarvis, pictured in action against Yorkshire Carnegie.

Despite beating Yorkshire Carnegie 31-26 at Castle Park on Sunday, Knights dropped a place to fourth as a result of Ealing picking up a bonus point win over Nottingham the previous day.

But with the London side, who remain on course for their first Championship play-offs in only their second season at this level, not in action this week, Knights can reclaim third spot if they can pick up at least two points from Sunday’s game at sixth-placed Cornish Pirates.

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Having beaten Knights at home back in November, Pirates will be looking to become only the second side to complete the double over them this season.

“We know it’s going to be tough, it always is down there, but we have been playing well on the road in recent months,” said director of rugby Clive Griffiths.

“I probably think we need ten points from our last three games to finish in the play-offs but we might not need that many; it all depends on if other results go our way.

“If we can beat Pirates and (fifth-placed) Jersey lose at home to unbeaten London Irish on Saturday, we’d be in a strong position.”

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The Welshman will be looking to the likes of full-back Paul Jarvis to help bring the points back to Castle Park.

Although Griffiths was critical of some of his defensive work in Sunday’s game when making his 100th appearance for the club, he told The Star that he had been one of his best signings during his time at Doncaster.

“He has got the pace which you need to be a full-back in the modern game but you also need to do the other stuff as well,” he said.