The Knights produced a performance worthy of points, but left the game with nothing to show for their efforts in a frustrating 26-35 defeat to Coventry today.

Despite, an early 9-0 lead, a 10 minute spell in the first half was enough for Coventry to demonstrate why they are 5th in the league as they scored three quickfire tries.

It was a bright start for the home side and the opening points of the game went the Knights way. Sam Olver was in fine form as he slotted away three penalties within the first 10 minutes to hand the home side a 9-0 lead.

However, that early dominance was soon put to a halt when Andy Forsyth intercepted a Olver pass on the halfway line and burst away clear to score. Coventry then began to turn the scoreline in their favour as Olowofela score in the corner with ease after Forsyth made another break from an interception this time on the Doncaster 10m line. Jennings converted to make it 9-12.

The Championship 5th placed side continued to press forwards and added their third try of the first half through Rob Knox. Jennings made a decent break into the 22, before Lloyd Hayes brought him down, although the ball was played wide quickly and Knox scored.

Doncaster saw that as the time to wake up and scored their first try of the game in the 22nd minute. Fotu Lokotui barging over after a good line out move. Olver converting to give the opposition only a one point lead.

Next, the Knights took the lead through an impressive kick 40 metres out. With the advantage, Clive Griffiths’ side took control of the intensity, but couldn’t add to their tally and it remained 19-17 at the interval.

As the second half got underway, it was lacklustre start for the home side. Jennings scoring a pen to hand the lead back to the side in orange.

A yellow card were shown to Toby Trinder, allowing the Knights push back into the game and they did so in superb style. After a number of phases and some all round good rugby, Tom James darted away inside the 22 to dot down. Olver adding the extras to narrow Coventry’s lead to one point once again.

Former Doncaster back row Jack Ram was branded a yellow as the home side looked to grasp the lead, however Olver missed a crucial kick from the 10m line in the 66th minute.

The game continued to go back and forth with neither outfit able to dominant, the next points were going to be vital and unfortunately it was Jennings that kicked them with a penalty in the last 10 minutes.

As the fixture wore on and a defeat looked certain, Coventry secured the victory for certain and put a stop to Doncaster’s hopes of a losing bonus point that they deserved as a minimum. Knox dotted down in the corner in the dying seconds to end the game 26-35.

Match Statistics

KNIGHTS XV: 15. Lloyd Hayes(71’Cowell) 14. Kyle Evans 13. Charlie Foley 12. Penikolo Latu 11. Tyson Lewis(58’Packman) 10. Sam Olver 9. Tom James(76’Pocklington) 1. Marc Thomas 2. Ben Hunter(71’Holling) 3. Colin Quigley(74’Suter) 4. Matt Challinor (c) 5. Cian Romaine(58’Eames) 6. Fotu Lokotui 7. Wian Conradie 8. Guido Volpi(77’Calladine)

Replacements: 16. Will Holling 17. Andrew Foster 18. Dan Suter 19. Morgan Eames 20. Tom Calladine 21. Sam Pocklington 22. Cameron Cowell 23. Howard Packman

Tries: Lokotui, James

Conversions: Olver 2

Penalties: Olver 4

15 Louis Brown; 14 Ryan Olowofela, 13 Andy Forsyth, 12 Will Owen, 11 Rob Knox; 10 Rory Jennings, 9 Pete White; 1 Toby Trinder, 2 Joe Buckle, 3 Gareth Denman, 4 Nile Dacres, 5 Alex Woolford, 6 Senitiki Nayalo, 7 Ben Nutley, 8 Ryan Burrows (capt)

16 Scott Tolmie, 17 David Langley, 18 Phil Boulton, 19 George Oram, 20 Jack Ram, 21 Tom Kessell, 22 Dan Lewis, 23 Adam Peters

Tries: Knox 2, Forsyth, Olowofela

Conversions: Jennings 2

Penalties: Jennings 2

Attendance : 1115