The Knights carved out a hard fought 22-18 win against Bedford Blues in rainy conditions today at Castle Park.

Sam Olver produced a fine kicking display as he scored 17 points and contributed to a vital victory with Lloyd Hayes scoring Doncaster’s only try of the game in the first minute of the game.

The home side started in the best way imaginable for the fans just sitting down in their seats as winger Kyle Evans made a great break in the Bedford 22 and offloaded to centre Hayes to dot down with ease. Olver converting to earn the home side a 7-0 lead with just two minutes on the clock.

From then, Bedford began to edge back into the match and after a sustained period of pressure it was hooker Robbie Smith that scored from a driving maul.

The away side had the chance to take the lead, but failed to do so when Will Hooley missed his conversion and two penalties in the first half.

Due to the wet conditions and consistent rain pouring down, both sides deployed a kicking game, making it a scrappy contest and therefore penalty kicks even more important to score. So when Olver was given the opportunity to extend the Knights lead he gratefully did so from the Blues 10m line with a superb penalty in the 37^th minute.

Doncaster took that 10-5 advantage into the break, but the away side felt frustrated to not be leading after missing three kicks themselves.

Bedford started the second half the better side and scored five minutes after the interval to take control of the game. Rich Lane collected a high box kick 35 metres out and avoided a number of tackles to dot down. Hooley converted his first kick of the game to make the score 13-12 to Doncaster.

The visitors then took the lead with a penalty in the 52^nd minute, Hooley on hand again from just outside the Donny 22.

Clive Griffiths’ side were then handed a one-man advantage when replacement Josh Buggea was shown a yellow card for a no arms tackle.

The home side slowly then began to go up the gears and roared on by the crowd started to dominate the fixture. Olver scoring a vital penalty from 22m line to earn the Knights a one-point lead. However, the game continued in a back and forth fashion with Hooley slotting away a penalty of his own for the Blues.

In the 76^th minute, Doncaster took the lead back as Olver stepped up to score another penalty and make the score 19-18. Then with the clock slowly ticking towards the final whistle, the fly-half saved his best kick until last with a superb penalty from just over the halfway line to earn the Knights a 22-18 win and push the side up the Championship table.

Match Statistics

Knights XV: 15. Cameron Cowell 14. Kyle Evans 13. Lloyd Hayes 12. Charlie Foley 11. Curtis Wilson(72’Lewis) 10. Sam Olver 9. Tom James 1. Robin Hislop(67’Thomas) 2. Ben Hunter 3. Andrew Foster(53’Quigley) 4. Rouban Birch 5. Morgan Eames(54’Calladine) 6. George Edgson 7. Michael Hills © (67’ Eames) 8. Ollie Stedman

Replacements: 16. Will Holling 17. Marc Thomas 18. Colin Quigley 19. Tom Calladine 20. Joe Sproston 21. Sam Pocklington 22. Tyson Lewis 23. Jack Roberts

Tries: Hayes Conversions: Olver Penalties: Olver 5

Bedford Blues XV:  15. Rich Lane 14. Pat Tapley 13. Matt Worley 12. Lewis Robling 11. Ryan Hutler 10. Will Hooley 9. Grayson Hart 1. Sean McCarthy (capt) 2. Robbie Smith 3. Henry Paul 4. Ed Taylor 5. Will Carrick Smith 6. Dan Temm 7. Joe Atkinson 8. Huw Worthington

Replacements: 16. Jacob Fields 17. Joe Wrafter 18. Andrew Boye 19. Jordan Onojaife 20. Josh Buggea 21. James Lennon 22. Oskar Hirskyj-Douglas 23. Ali Crossdale

Tries: Smith, Lane Conversions: Hooley Penalties: Hooley 2

Yellow card: Buggea