Lost lineout at the death leaves Cov a point short

DONCASTER have launched the new league campaign successfully with consecutive wins, but in their first match at Castle Park for a year, needed to resist a strong recovery by Coventry to claim the points.

The Knights, leading comfortably 20-7, following tries by winger Kyle Evans, No.8 John Kelly and centre Charlie Foley, declined quickly and were forced to cling on to the narrowest of leads (20-19) for 15 minutes.

“This was a big performance by us considering we had only a five days’ turnaround after the Ampthill game,” said Doncaster head coach Steve Boden.

“The rugby we played in the first half was the best seen at Castle Park for a long time.”

Cov’s indiscipline harmed their cause in the first half. Prop Luc Jeannot’s yellow card on 29 minutes for a sacrum offence was punished by Doncaster scoring eight points in his absence – Foley’s try followed by a penalty from fly-half Sam Olver.

Coventry hit back in the second half to create two more tries, adding to their first by hooker Nick Dolly, driven over after Doncaster’s forwards had been penalised four times.

On the hour, a break by Dolly created a try for flanker Ben Nutley and just five minutes later, Coventry’s fightback gathered strength as winger Rob Stevenson shot through to capitalise on an attack in which skipper Ryan Burrows and replacement scrum-half Joe Snow were prominent.

The conversion by substitute fly-half Kieran Wilkinson slashed Knights’ lead to 20-19, setting up a tense climax.With momentum in their favour, Coventry needed to use possession and territory constructively, but mistakes occurred – the worst being a lost lineout in the 78th minute in a promising position.

Dolly threw the ball to the back but it failed to reach its target and Doncaster gathered.

Given the number of errors by both teams and over 30 penalties conceded, Doncaster couldn’t be certain they’d hold on but their pack handled the tension and on 80 minutes won a free kick at the final scrum.

Coventry director of rugby Rowland Winter said: “I was pleased with our second half. We showed character and our bench did well, like Phil Boulton, and Ryan Burrows led by example.”