Doncaster Knights hopes of reaching the semi-finals of the Championship play offs received a big set back when, after losing by two points to a very late penalty to Exeter Chiefs at Castle Park last Saturday, they were put to the sword a week later by the same side by 51 points to 15 at Sandy Park. They now need to win both of their remaining matches at Nottingham next Sunday and at home to London Welsh on May 1st if they are to progress to the semi-finals and, even then, the other games in the pool need to go in their favour.

For this crucial and most difficult match, Knights Director of Rugby Lynn Howells made five changes to the side that had run Exeter extremely close the previous weekend. In the backs Steve McColl replaced Anthony Carter at full back, Alistair Warnock was selected at fly half in place of James Brooks and fit again Nicky Griffiths came in for Chris Hallam at scrum half. In the pack, Steve Lawrie returned as captain in place of Steve Boden whilst Bryn Griffiths replaced injured skipper Glen Kenworthy at lock.

The game started badly for the Knights when in the first 17 minutes, after being driven back 30 metres by a rolling maul almost from the kickoff, they conceded a penalty to Chiefs flyhalf Danny Gray followed by tries by from 30 metres out No 8 Richie Baxter and lock Tommy Hayes, both of which eminated from some uncharacteristically poor tackling by the Knights. Both these tries were converted by Gray. The only respite for the Knights was a penalty by Ali Warnock. After 23 minutes the Chiefs went further ahead when their hooker Neil Clark crashed over. Such was the pace, intensity and skill levels of the game that the first scrum did not take place until the 28th minute. The Knights managed to gradually claw their way back into the game and they scored their first try just before half time when Lawrie drove over from close range following a series of such efforts.

Turning around 22 points to 8 down, but still in the game, the Knights needed a good start to the second half but this was not to be as Exeter ran them ragged in the opening 5 minutes through exciting play which resulted in tries for full back Phil Dolman and replacement centre Steve Jones. With 52 minutes the Knights were dealt a body blow when Adam Kettle, only on for 5 minutes as a replacement for Andy Boyde at flanker, was sent off the field by referee David Rose for alleged foul play after intervention by the touch judge. Shortly afterwards, in defending a chip ahead in their in-goal area, the Knights were penalised for deliberately throwing the ball over their own dead ball line and Gray converted the resultant penalty try. Now 31 points behind and a man short, the Knights threw caution to the wind and they were rewarded when scrum half broke down the blindside from close to the Chiefs line for the Knights second try that Warnock converted. Although the 14 man Knights to their credit never gave in and played with spirit to the end, they could not hold out and they conceded 14 points in the last 10 minutes by Chiefs replacement hooker Simon Alcott and Jones, both of which were converted by Gray.

It was a very disappointed Knights side that travelled back to Doncaster after a game they had high hopes of winning after their spirited performance against the same opponents the previous weekend. Back to back games against promotion co-favourites Exeter was never going to be easy and the Chiefs had clearly done their homework on the Knights and managed to negate the advantages that Doncaster had enjoyed the previous weekend. To their credit, the Knights heads never dropped and they never gave in no matter what the score may suggest.

Exeter Chiefs: Dollman, Jess, Sesteret (Jones), Rennie (Cornwall 77), Foster, Gray, Thomas (Stuart-Smith 46), Tui (Budgen 60), Clark (Alcott 60), Sturgess, Hanks, Hayes, Johnson, Baxter (Gannon 60), Scaysbrook (Miller 55)

Doncaster Knights: McColl (Carter 46), Wright, Armitage, Briers, Goss, Warnock (Brooks 62), Griffiths N, Ta’u (Toke 53), Lawrie (Boden 42), Toke (Thiede 36), Griffiths B (Smith 66), Townson, Boyde (Kettle 47), Cochrane, Grainger Replacement not used: Hallam