Doncaster produced a magnificent display today to become just the second team this season to win at the Butts Park Arena.

Tries from Steve McColl and Ollie Stedman were the backbone of a superb display that was confirmed by the impressive kicking of Dougie Flockhart. The winger scoring one with three minutes to go from just inside the Coventry half and earn the 23-17 win.

The first half began with the Knights on the attack from the whistle and managed to show a clinical edge as they entered the Coventry 22. Sam Olver first intercepted a pass, offloaded to Steve McColl, the winger found Josh Tyrell in support, who managed to reach five metres from the try line before being tackled. The Knights kept patient and it was Olver again involved as he found a gap to pass to an on running McColl, who dotted down. Flockhart converted to make it 7-0.

Coventry looked to reply and had chances, but the Doncaster defence held firm on several occasions. It took till 10 minutes before half-time for the home side to get onto the scoreboard, Will Maisey scoring, but missing the conversion to make it 7-5 to Doncaster at the break.

After the interval, Coventry fought back instantly. David Halaifonu driving over halfway and offloading to Peter White on the 22m line for the scrum-half to score. Maisey converted to give the home side the lead for the first time in the match.

Flockhart decreased the home side’s lead to 12-10 with a penalty on the 46^th minute. However, the balance of the match swayed again in Coventry’s favour, this time a driving maul resulted in Scott Tolmie scoring.

At 17-10 down after 58 minutes, the Knights began their fightback and showed a toughness the Butts Park Arena crowd hadn’t seen in an opponent this season.

Ollie Stedman found a gap inside the Coventry 22, pushed off two tackles and drove over for his third try since joining the Knights. Flockhart converted to make the score 17-17 and drive the ascendancy with Doncaster.

The winger then showed his experience and kicking class as he scored two penalties in the last seven minutes. The last of the two and the winning kick from 35m out and earned Doncaster a deserved victory.

Match Statistics

Starting XV: 15. McColl(60’Foley) 14. Flockhart 13. Creed 12. Owen 11. Lewis 10. Olver 9. James 1. Hislop(78’Williams) 2. Hunter(60’Mayhew) 3. Quigley(68’Sproston) 4. Tyrell 5. Civetta 6. Stedman 7. Hills(59’Calladine) © 8. Pitman(73’Lomidze)

Replacements: 16. Mayhew 17. Williams 18. Sproston 19. Lomidze 20. Calladine 21. Seniloli. 22. Foley

Tries: McColl, Stedman Conversions: Flockhart 2 Penalties: Flockhart 3

Coventry XV: 15. Stokes 14. Trimble 13. Knox 12. Fenner 11. Halaifonua 10. Maisey 9.White 1. Beech 2. Dawidiuk 3. Boulton 4. Voss 5. Oram 6. Faleafa 7. Ram 8. Peters

Replacements: 16. Scott Tolmie 17. James Gibbons 18. Josh McNulty 19. Tom Jubb 20. Ben Nutley 21. Tom Kessell 22. Andy Bulumakau

Tries: Maisey 2, Tolmie Conversions: Maisey

Yellow Card: Peters

Attendance: 2117