Doncaster Knights 26 Coventry 35: Knights' home run comes to an end as rugby union continues despite coronavirus outbreak

Tom James is pictured in action against Coventry. Photo: Marie Caley

Given the fact that the visitors scored five tries against two no one could argue that they fully deserved their first win on the road in 2020 but the result was in the balance until wing Rob Knox bagged his second try in stoppage time.

The try robbed Knights of a losing bonus point which they probably deserved for there was no lack of effort in what may prove to be their last game of the season due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Knights got off to a bright start with fly-half Sam Olver taking advantage of the wind to kick three early long-range penalties to give his side a 9-0 lead.

Coventry centre Andy Forsyth intercepted Olver’s pass and raced over 40 metres to score against the run of play.

Forsyth then ran on to a short ball at pace just inside the Doncaster half and held his pass until wing Olowofela Taiye caught up with him.

It took a superb last-ditch tackle by full-back Lloyd Hayes, who produced a good all-round display, to halt Rory Jennings just short of the line, but the visitors were not to be denied and Knox touched down from a long pass by former Doncaster captain Will Owen to earn his side a 17-9 lead going into the second quarter.

Knights hit back to lead 19-17 at the break with a close-range effort from back-rower Lokotui Fotu, a deserved winner of the Doncaster man-of-the-match award, which Olver converted as well as kicking a fourth penalty.

Jennings kicked Coventry, who rode their luck at times in the third quarter, into a 20-19 lead with a 47th minute penalty.

A close-range converted try by former dual-reg No 8 Ryan Burrows opened up an eight-point lead.

Scrum-half Tom Jones threw Knights a lifeline when jinking past a couple of defenders to score early in the final quarter.

Olver added the extras and would have given Knights the lead had his 40m penalty into the wind gone over.

Jennings was more successful at the other end when opening up a 30-26 lead.

Knights: Hayes, Evans, Foley, Penikolo, Lewis, Olver, James; Thomas, Hunter, Quigley, Challinor, Romaine, Lokotui, Conradie, Volpi. Rep: Holling, Foster, Suter, Eames, Calladine, Pocklington, Cowell, Packman.