Doncaster Knights 23 Pontypridd 35: Knights left to ponder defeat as Welsh battle back for shock win

Defeat means Doncaster cannot progress to the semi-finals.

However, they will only have to look at their inability to penetrate the visitors defence in spite of all their territorial advantage in the first half and a porous defence once Pontypridd overcame their early lack of possession.

The game kicked-off in perfect conditions for rugby and it was the Knights who went into the lead after seven minutes through a penalty by Tristan Roberts.

Although Simon Humberstone equalised for Pontypridd after 10 minutes, the Knights piled on the pressure and they pinned Pontypridd deep in their own 22 for almost 15 minutes.

Unfortunately a lack of penetration, as the Knights attempted a series of pushover tries, meant that they failed to turn pressure into points until the 25th minute when centre PJ Gidlow crashed over from close range for a try that Roberts converted.

Roberts extended his side's lead with another penalty as half-time approached but then Pontypridd had one last attack as they entered the Knights' 22 for just about the first time in the match.

After attacking down the middle, the ball was moved to the left where wing Owen Williams evaded three attempted tackles to score in the corner with the last play of the half.

Turning around 13-8 ahead, the Knights were looking to continue taking the game to their opposition through their powerful pack but they put themselves under pressure when Gidlow was yellow-carded for dangerous play after only two minutes.

Pontypridd hit the Knights straight away as they won a five-metre lineout and replacement hooker Kristian Dacey crashed over after the initial drive had been repulsed.

Humberstone converted this try but the visitors four-point lead was reduced shortly afterwards through a Roberts penalty.

With the Knights back at full strength, it was Pontypridd who suffered when Dacey was yellow-carded for foul play after 50 minutes and Doncaster took advantage of their numerical superiority when winger Andy Wright pounced on a delicate grubber kick by Roberts who then proceeded to convert his team's try from close to touch.

Almost from the restart, however, Pontypridd made light of Dacey's absence as firstly, centre Dafydd Lockyer broke through two poor attempted tackles and then, from the resultant ruck 15 metres out, scrum half Lewis Jones dummied before evading some poor defence to race over.

Humberstone's conversion put Pontypridd ahead and, shortly afterwards, he kicked a penalty when Knights Flockhart was yellow-carded for a technical offence. Another Humberstone penalty after 64 minutes put Pontypridd seven points clear but the Knights, although they took the game back at their visitors, were unable to penetrate their resolute defence.

As the final whistle approached, Pontypridd had one last attack and, after they had been stopped just short, centre Lockyer crashed through yet another poor Knights tackle to score from five metres out.

Humberstone's conversion took his side into a 12-point lead and it was game over for the Knights.

Doncaster coach Lynn Howells said: "My side has a lot of questions to answer. Having dominated the first 40 minutes, we have no excuses for their poor execution of handling and the number of first-up tackles that they missed."

Doncaster Knights: Flockhart, Wright, Devlin (Briers 62), Gidlow, Williams, Roberts, Hampson, Frazier (Corsar 46), Boden (Doughty 79), Cusack (Thiede 77), Kenworthy, Parsons, Challinor, Makaafi (Cochrane 55), Walker (Farivarz 62). Unused Replacement: McColl.

Pontypridd: Thomas, Wyatt, Lockyer, G Dacey, O Williams, Humberstone, Jones (Lucas 77), S Williams (John 38), R Williams (K Dacey HT), Knaggs, Locke, Savage (Screechy 77), Siggery (Callum 70), Dicomidis, Waters. Unused replacements: Gunter, Thomas