Interestingly, before the game, Cov led The Champ with more offloads than any other team in the league this season. They seem to have adapted better than most to the recent law changes regarding the lowering of the tackle, which now make offloads less risky than before, as noted by Shaun Edwards in today's The Rugby Paper. But that is true of the opposition, too, which is perhaps one reason why we're seeing more tries scored this season.

In the end, Cov proved far too strong for a battling Doncaster side that worked hard all afternoon and just about deserved their bonus point for scoring four tries. They were actually flattered a little, however, by the scoreline and had it not been for an uncharacteristically poor day off the tee from Tommy Mathews, the extra ten points from missed conversions might have been a truer reflection of the gulf in the end between the two sides.

Those on the Cov side under the lights on Friday might encounter players with greater talent and potential skill this season, but I doubt they'll face a more intense physical battle. The Army showed no mercy for the youth or smaller size of their opponents. They were fierce in their tackles, relentless in the scrum, and, as anticipated, offered no concessions whatsoever...

Hopefully, more sponsors will want to be involved ... whatever the sums involved, they must be a shadow of the alleged £450,000 that Prem...