Bristol 26 Doncaster 18: Knights left running on empty after late rally at Bristol

Doncaster, who parted company with director of rugby Brett Davey on Friday having recently brought in Clive Griffiths as director of professional rugby, dropped to the bottom of the table when Jersey surprisingly beat Leeds on Saturday.

A losing bonus point yesterday would have lifted the Knights out of the relegation zone – and, at 26-6 down with eight minutes to play, that looked impossible.

But late tries from Connor Braid and Chris Planchant hauled Doncaster right back into contention, before Jamie Lennard had a chance to seal a losing bonus point with the last kick of the match, but sent a tricky drop-goal attempt wide.

Doncaster started brightly, but it was the hosts who led 9-6 after an uninspiring first half.

Adrian Jarvis punished some early Doncaster indiscipline when he knocked over a penalty, before doubling Bristol’s lead after the Knights dropped a scrum.

Fly-half Lennard kicked Doncaster into the game with a 45-metre penalty, before Jarvis restored Bristol’s six-point lead following another scrum infringement, only for Lennard to hit back and make it 9-6 at half-time.

Doncaster had dealt admirably with Bristol’s feted line-out drive in the first half – but the tactic led to the opening try of the game four minutes after the restart, when No 8 Mitch Eadie was driven over and Jarvis converted.

The Bristol fly-half then added two penalties to make it 22-6 and then George Watkins beat Tyson Lewis on the outside to further increase Bristol’s lead.

Doncaster finished the stronger of the two sides, though, with full-back Braid scoring a fine solo try and No 8 Planchant going over from close range.

But, with a losing bonus point within their grasp, Lennard sent a drop-goal attempt, albeit from a difficult angle and distance, wide of the target.

Bristol: J Tovey; G Watkins, L Eves, J Gadd (F Otto 63), D McIlwaine; A Jarvis (T Roberts 66), R Tipuna (capt; J Grindal 66); K Traynor, R Johnston (R Lawrence 63), J Hobson (B Douglas 63), M Sambucetti (B Glynn 53), G Townson, A Faosiliva, R Pennycook (M Mama 63), M Eadie.

Doncaster Knights: C Braid; D Mama, W Simpson, A Symons (J Tincknell 74), T Lewis (D Flockhart 76); J Lennard, C Hallam (L Silver 76); T Davies, R Buckley, K Brookes (T Francis 57), M Challinor (capt), P Hoy (W Hafu 63), A Kettle (S Pailor 44), J Rawling, C Planchant. Replacements not used: B McGovern.

Referee: J Meredith.