Narrow defeat for Nottingham

A FLURRY of tries in the opening 20 minutes set the stage for a cagey final hour as Doncaster narrowly escaped with a 20-14 Championship victory over their close rivals Nottingham.

The scoring started in the first five minutes when Doncaster worked the ball up to the 22 and second rower Harry Wilson craftily picked up the ball from a ruck and squeezed through a gap in the Nottingham line to finish.

Nottingham’s first try came only minutes later. Jack Stapley span away from a Doncaster tackle to open a huge gap before a quick offload to Harry Graham as the green and whites levelled.

Shortly after, the visitors kicked a penalty to the corner and at first tried to use their forwards to drive their way over the line but Nottingham defended superbly.

Trying a different tactic, Doncaster spread the ball out wide and Jack Metcalf eventually found a gap big enough to dive over the line.

However, Nottingham once again responded. David Williams first broke through a gap in the Donny defence and was tackled inches from the line.

Nottingham quickly rallied though and it didn’t take long for Kayde Sylvester to find another gap and dive through for a debut try. The conversion from Matt Arden also meant that the Archers took the lead thanks to Billy Mcbryde hooking his second conversion earlier.

Doncaster got another try at the 20 minute mark, although Mcbryde once again missed the conversion.

A penalty was kicked to give the visitors a six point lead in the 40th minute.

The first 20 minutes of the second half were cagey and Doncaster lost Connor Edwards, who had to leave the field with concussion.

Nottingham thought they had an opening in the 60th minute when the ball was chipped over the Doncaster defence for Williams to chase.

He took it well and offloaded to Michael Stronge, who looked like he could take it all the way.

However, he was brought back by the referee who ruled that Williams had been in front of the kicker.

Nottingham kicked a penalty to the corner with 10 minutes to go.

They tried to utilise the driving maul to go over the line but the Doncaster defence stood strong, eventually winning a penalty which allowed them to clear their lines.

Nottingham couldn’t break through and had to be content with a losing bonus point.