Doncaster Knights 13 Moseley 28: Unhappy Griffiths warns Knights of relegation dogfight

His side failed to take advantage of a fourth-minute try from Bruno Bravo and were undone by their determined visitors and an impressive kicking display from England Under-20 fly-half Sam Olver.

“We tried to play in the wrong areas at times and I have to say it’s one of my lowest days at Castle Park,” said Griffiths.

“I’ve had better days as a rugby coach and there were no comparisons to the desire and durability we showed on that Friday night against Bristol.

“I have no arguments with the result, we were beaten by a better team. They don’t play much rugby but have kicked us to death today and the young lad Olver has kicked his goals and orchestrated the game well.”

Dougie Flockhart converted Bravo’s try to hand the Knights a seven-point lead but the remainder of the half showcased the kicking ability of both sides with Olver’s four penalties eclipsing Flockhart’s brace as the visitors closed to 13-12 at the break.

There had been chances for both sides to cross the whitewash, Moseley prop Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi knocked on just as he was about to crash over and the Doncaster forwards twice managed to fluff their lines after winning five-metre line-outs.

In the end, the only other score came at the start of the second period, back-row Chris Brightwell being driven over by the Moseley pack and Olver’s extras guided the visitors into a lead they were never to relinquish.

Further pressure from the battling Birmingham side prompted a series of penalties which Olver duly converted to take his personal tally to 23 points.

Paul Roberts tried in vain to take his side upfield with a number of thumping kicks only for the visitors to send the ball back through the fog that just added to the gloom surrounding Castle Park.

Griffiths – whose side have now not won in the league in three games – added: “I have to go away and assess the performance of the team – which wasn’t good.

“I take full responsibility for the performance – the selection and substitutions. But that’s not good enough and if we have any aspirations to stay in the Championship we have to get our act in order quickly because we are in a dogfight now.”

The result leaves Doncaster fifth from bottom on 14 points, two clear of Yorkshire Carnegie, three ahead of Moseley and five in front of Cornish Pirates with Plymouth at the bottom on two points.

Doncaster Knights: Jarvis, Flockhart, Williams, Armitage, Lewis, Roberts (Lennard 54), Bravo (Maplesden 71); Brugnara, Hunter (Bergmans 76), Quigley (List 63), Challinor, Hotson (Kenworth 68), Makaafi (Eggleshaw 63), Hills, Shaw. Unused: Hihetah.

Moseley: Penn, Cheshire, Armstrong, Owen, Skelcey (Hutchinson 77), Oliver, Day (Brazier 78); Hobbs-Awoyemi (Warren 70), Caves (Tolmie 65), Voisey (Thorp 77), Charlton, Powell (Dacres 69), Mason (Thomas 73), Siggery, Brightwell.

Referee: S Lee.