A stoppage-time converted try condemned Doncaster Knights to a 32-30 Championship defeat against fourth-placed Yorkshire Carnegie at Castle Park.

Just when it looked as though Knights – who had second-rower Nick Civetta sent-off in first-half stoppage time following a clash of heads with scrum-half Will Homer – had defied the odds to claim a 30-25 victory, Carnegie struck at the death.

They got on a roll from a lineout and Knights could do little to prevent hooker Joe Buckle from touching down to level the scores at 30-all.

Fly-half Alex Davies, who had kicked well all game, held his nerve to kick the winning conversion to complete a double for the Leeds side.

Buoyed by their impressive derby win at Clifton Lane, Knights made a confident start with flanker Jack Ram, who had his best game of the season, well to the fore.

It was no more than they deserved when fly-half Simon Humberstone kicked Knights into an early lead.

Knights continued to play an attractive brand of attacking rugby but couldn’t turn further pressure into points.

Such was Knights territorial dominance that it took Carnegie more than 15 minutes to breach their 22 – wing George Watkins going close in the corner during their first attacking sortie of note.

It was against the run of play when they took the lead.

After his forwards had drawn a blank when trying to force their way over from close range, Davies produced a neat grubber kick to the corner which led to full-back Chris Elder touching down near enough for the half-back to convert to make it 7-3.

Centre Tom Casson went close to a second try from another clever grubber kick by Davies over the line during Carnegie’s best spell of the half.

Knights quickly regained the initiative and were awarded a penalty try when Elder, who was subsequently sin-binned, was ruled to have deliberately knocked down prop Colin Quigley’s high pass meant for wing Curtis Wilson.

Davies levelled the scores at 10-10 with a penalty but Knights again got their noses in front.

Full-back Charlie Foley joined the line out wide just outside the Carnegie 22 and fed Wilson, who cut inside his marker and then surged past several other defenders to score for the fourth successive game.

Davies pegged three points back with a second penalty and would have given his side a 16-15 interval lead had he not pulled an injury-time effort wide.

Despite been a man down, Knights took the game to Carnegie upon the restart with Ram helping to create the position from which Wilson was held just short.

Knights remained on the attack and scrum-half Michael Heaney picked out centre Will Owen with a long pass.

Humberstone again added the extras and kicked another penalty to  open up a 25-13 lead.

Knights let their concentration slip and were punished when centre Andy Forsyth raced in out wide.

Carnegie, who had won their previous five league and cup games, grabbred a third try by Elder following some good handling down the right and with Davies again hitting the target the scores were level for a second time at 25-25.

Knights picked up a try-bonus point for the second league game in succession when skipper Michael Hills touched down for their fourth try from close range to make it 30-25.

Knights found themselves under almost constant pressure in the last ten minutes or so but some heroic defence managed to keep their line intact until Buckle sealed their fate.

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