The Knights produced a spirited display against Newcastle Falcons, but were undone by the clinical Championship league leaders 34-10 this evening.

Doncaster started the game in similar fashion to the reverse fixture at Castle Park with a high intensity and tempo to their play. Those efforts were eventually rewarded when Sam Olver slotted away a penalty from the halfway line to give the visitors the lead after 12 minutes.

Although, that early advantage spurred on the Falcons as they slowly began to dominate the remainder of the half. On two occasions the Knights went close to conceding a try, but for a good Steve McColl tackle dragging Tom Arscott into touch and then an obstruction given, it could have been a different score after half an hour.

Newcastle did eventually bounce back from behind and twice scored through George McGuigan from driving mauls as the home side began to dominant the game.

Wain Conradie was shown a yellow card moments before the second try, which allowed the former Premiership outfit to continue to be camped in the away side’s 22 for the remainder of the half.

With the first 40 minutes nearly over and the Falcons were firmly in control, they scored a third try, which was harsh on the superb Doncaster efforts in defence, as Sonatane Takulua barged Olver over from close range to dot down. Flood missed his third conversion in a row as the first half ended 15-3.

The home side began the second half in blistering fashion as Radwan dotted down in the corner. That lead was further extended on the 60-minute mark when Guy Graham drove over from close range.

Doncaster rallied back though and began to take the game to the home side as both Stedman and Lokotui made good breaks into the Newcastle half.

That pressure was eventually rewarded after 73 minutes, when captain for the game Matt Challinor scored as Donny had began to turn the balance of the game in their favour. Charlie Foley converted to make the score line 27-10.

However, Newcastle were again clinical though with the game getting to the closing stages as Radwan beat Howard Packman to a bouncing ball deep inside the Doncaster 22. Replacement Joel Hodgson converting to make the score line a rather harsh 34-10 to the home side.

Match Statistics

Newcastle Falcons XV:

15 Tom Arscott 14 Adam Radwan 13 George Wacokecoke 12 Gareth Owen 11 Sinoti Sinoti 10 Toby Flood 9 Sonatane Takulua 1 Trevor Davison 2 George McGuigan (captain) 3 Logovi’i Mulipola 4 Darren Barry 5 Sean Robinson 6 Will Welch 7 John Hardie 8 Gary Graham

Replacements: 16 Jamie Blamire 17 Sam Lockwood 18 Mark Tampin 19 Greg Peterson 20 Nemani Nagusa 21 Michael Young 22 Joel Hodgson 23 Ben Stevenson

Tries: McGuigan 2, Takulua, Graham, Radwan 2 Conversions: Flood, Hodgson

Yellow card: Robinson

Doncaster Knights XV:

15 Steve McColl(61’Cowell) 14 Howard Packman 13 Lloyd Hayes 12 Charlie Foley 11 Tyson Lewis 10 Sam Olver(40’Evans) 9 Tom James 1 Marc Thomas(71’Sproston) 2 Will Holling(54’Edgson) 3 Andrew Foster(54’Quigley) 4 Matt Challinor (captain) 5 Rory Pitman 6 Tom Calladine(57’Lokotui) 7 Wian Conradie(71’Eames) 8 Ollie Stedman

Replacements: 16 George Edgson 17 Colin Quigley 18 Joe Sproston 19 Morgan Eames 20 Fotu Lokotui 21 Sam Pocklington 22 Cameron Cowell 23 Kyle Evans

Tries: Challinor Conversions: Foley Penalties: Olver

Yellow Card: Conradie