The Nuns started the 2017-18 season with an away trip to level transferred Doncaster Phoenix. They arrived at the impressive Castle Park ground, which Phoenix share with Championship side Doncaster Knights, on a sunny afternoon with a pitch that was made for running rugby. Debuts were given to Harry Garforth in the centre and Arron Skyrme on the bench.

The opening passage of play gave both teams opportunities to play with ball in hand but then Doncaster struck with 3 well worked tries in the opening 12 minutes. On 4 minutes their scrumhalf finished off an attack from a line out in the Nuneaton 22. On 9 minutes a second converted try was scored after a long passage of play with the Nuns running out of defenders out wide. However, the best try of the day was scored on 12 minutes by Doncaster wing Seva Bulumakau, an individual effort from near the half way including a precise chip and chase finished off in the corner that went un-converted. !2 minutes gone and 19-0 to Doncaster.

Having regathered themselves the Nuns started to get back into the game with the set piece starting to become a strength. A scrum penalty on 19 minutes resulted in 3 points from the boot of Tyler Price. The game ebbed and flowed again but it was Doncaster who finished the half strongly with a fourth try, on 38 minutes, from their full back and conversion to leave the Nuns trailing 26-3 at half time.

The Nuns started the second period with a lot more vigour and purpose in all aspects of their game and on 44 minutes, from a penalty kick to the corner, Ben Holmes was at the bottom of a successful line out catch and drive to score their first try of the season. 8 minutes later and after some more pressure and retained possession Rudi Reid went over near the posts for a converted try bringing the score to 26-15.

Doncaster were quick to respond though and on 55 minutes they scored their fifth try which was converted taking the score to 33-15.

The Nuns never gave up though and continued to put the hosts under pressure. On 65 minutes, having work the ball across the pitch from side to side a couple of times and retaining possession Jackson Hughes danced his way to the try line for another converted try. This brought the score to 33-22 and the Nuns were sensing a chance to get closer still.

Hopes were dashed though, a gap on the fringe of a ruck 40metres out was spotted by the Doncaster substitute scrum half who made a bee-line for the corner. Rory Vowles chased back hard and made the tackle to push the player into touch on the corner flag but the Referee adjudged the try to be scored which gave the hosts a 38-22 lead with just 9 minutes remaining.

On 75 minutes, after a couple of penalties and catch and drive line outs in the Doncaster 22m played moved in field and Tom Smitham squeezed in for a try which was again converted by Price to leave the Nuns 38-29 down.

As the clock ticked down and with the Nuns pressing hard Doncaster scrambled in defence even to stop another try from being scored. With the last play of the game a penalty was conceded by the host in front of the posts just 5meters out. A routine penalty for Price was converted which gave the Nuns a losing bonus point to add to their four try one. If the side hadn’t given their hosts the opportunity to score early points in the game the outcome could have been different but 2 points on the road is better than none.

Tries – Holmes, Reid, Hughes, Smitham
Conversions – Price 3
Penalties – Price 1

Ben Holmes, Adam Ross, Adam Woodfield, Scott Makepeace, Matt Gibbs, Rudi Reid, Todd Bullions, George Wallis, Tom Smitham, Tyler Price, Adam Stauvers, Tim Douglas, Harry Garforth, Jackson Hughes, Rory Vowles – Dan Oselton, Arron Skyrme, Moses Liwaliwa