Nottingham 24 Doncaster Knights 3: Losing streak continues in league for struggling Knights

Clive Griffiths’s side, in truth, found the going tough right from the start and it was no surprise when the hosts went in front, despite the South Yorkshire outfit standing firm in the opening few minutes.

The Knights’ resolve was eventually broken in the 13th minute.

A flowing move from Martin Haag’s men delivered the first try of the game.

The Greens went from left to right and back again, bamboozling the Doncaster defence and, after a fine offload, inside centre Javiah Pohe had space to slide over the try line, scoring his fourth try for the club.

It probably took about 10 minutes longer than a healthy Meadow Lane crowd had thought it would, but it was a fine phase of play nonetheless.

Fly-half Dan Mugford sent a stinging kick from wide on the left touchline straight over the posts to put his side 7-0 ahead.

Moments later, the Greens’ first-half dominance was further rewarded when Billy Robinson broke through a sparsely populated Knights defence, to score.

Mugford’s curling conversion didn’t quite do enough to complete the scoring, but it was an impressive half for the home side who went into the warmth of the dressing rooms with a deserved 12-0 lead.

Full-back Paul Jarvis almost produced a try for the Castle Park outfit in the opening minute of the second period, but a last-ditch tackle from full-back Billy Robinson saved the day for Nottingham.

But to the visitors’ credit, they refused to lie down and indeed got themselves on the scoreboard five minutes into the half.

Winger Dougie Flockhart took the penalty and cleared the posts to reduce the arrears, giving a healthy travelling contingent making the short trip down the M1 something to finally cheer about.

Those cheers didn’t last long, however, as Nottingham added two more tries through captain Brent Wilson and back rower Rupert Cooper.

Doncaster almost grabbed a late try to add a little more respectability to proceedings, but replacement Ollie Bryant couldn’t quite get the ball over the line.

That was that and Doncaster were left to rue a disappointing afternoon and now have a two-week break before they face local rivals Rotherham Titans at home.

Nottingham: B Robinson, Hough, Styles, Pohe, O’Neill, Mugford, Romans, Porter, Malton, Carey, Freeman, Montague, Cooper, Wilson, Grant. Replacements: Ma’afu, Holford, Vickers, Price, Calladine, Smit, Maisey

Doncaster Knights: Jarvis, Flockhart, Bulumakau, Armitage, Williams, Francis, Bravo, List, Hunter, Davies, Challinor, Phelan, Eggleshaw, Hills, Shaw. Replacements: Brugnara, Veikoso, Pasquali, Makaafi, Roberts, Bryant, Field.

The only other Championship fixture at the weekend saw leaders Worcester ease to a 34-17 win at London Scottish.