Doncaster Knights 27 Plymouth Albion 6: Glorious return as Knights swat aside Plymouth

The victory is the Knights’ 16th league win in a row at Castle Park, a run that stretches back to April 2013, when ironically, they were beaten by Albion on the final day of the 2012-13 Championship season.

The result also piles further early-season pressure onto the Devon club, who are now without a win in eight league matches.

Tries from Paul Jarvis, former Plymouth lock Tyler Hotson and Michael Hills proved decisive, leaving Knights boss Clive Griffiths overjoyed.

“It’s great to come back and put a good side away like that,” he said.

“That win was based on good defence and a good scrum, there were 22 really good players out there and we got over the line.

“It was convincing in the end, but I’m more delighted with just the six against as well as the three outstanding tries.

“Those 10 minutes just before half-time are crucial because if your fitness levels aren’t up there then you’ll fall away and we scored two tries in that period.

“At the moment it’s looking good, but we can’t get too cocky because it’s just one game and four much-needed points.

“They didn’t get a point which in the bigger picture is great, we went all out for the bonus point and didn’t get it it, but if someone had offered me a 27-6 win for the first game back I’d have snapped their hand off.

“We were in their faces all of the time, and they have got some exciting runners, but we didn’t give them that opportunity.

“We’ve got some work to do on lineout defence, but we thoroughly deserved this win.”

A cagey opening from both sides was only punctuated by Albion’s player-coach James Shanahan’s early decision to withdraw from the action after seven minutes because of a hamstring injury after a heavy fall.

In truth, the game could have taken on a different complexion had Plymouth skipper Ian Grieve been able to convert a couple of early chances when the game was still without a score.

After an attacking lineout deep in Doncaster territory, the Knights’ defence was found wanting for the first time but former Bristol flanker Grieve couldn’t take advantage when he lost control of the ball over the line.

The Knights then had Grieve’s questionable handling to thank once more when he knocked the ball on just four metres away from an inviting try line.

The first-half continued to lack any momentum and Rayner skewed a chance wide from the tee after the Knights were penalised at the breakdown.

Whilst Shanahan’s men could not take their chances, Doncaster needed no second invitation.

From a strong lineout, the Knights worked the ball to the blindside allowing full-back Jarvis to race clear of defenders and charge over in the corner and score last season’s National One champions their first points of the new campaign.

Having pulled an earlier penalty attempt onto the post, former Scotland rugby league winger Dougie Flockhart made no mistake with the conversion.

Roared on a partisan crowd at Castle Park, Doncaster continued to pile on the pressure as the half neared its end and they got their reward with a second try.

Making his competitive debut for the club having signed from London Scottish, Canadian international Hotson barged his way over against his former club and Flockhart converted for a 14-point half-time lead.

The visitors earned their first points of the season when the Knights were penalised at the breakdown and Lawrence Rayner made no mistake from just to the left of the posts with the three points.

Moments later, Flockhart restored the 14-point lead from the tee with his first penalty, thanks to strong work from the Knights pack at a scrum.

Doncaster were penalised for being off their feet in the tackle and Rayner kicked his second three points of the afternoon to reduce the deficit to 11 points.

But whilst those two scores kept Plymouth in touch, Albion were never really in the contest and were always chasing the game. Flockhart then stepped up once more when Albion were pinged at the scrum for standing up and he kicked the points to restore the 14-point lead.

Griffiths’s men wrapped up the victory with five minutes remaining through captain Hills. Great play involving the former Sale man and Flockhart saw the flanker in space and he ran 45 metres to secure four points on Doncaster’s return.

Doncaster Knights: Jarvis (Bulumakau 77), Flockhart , Clark , Armitage , Lewis , Lennard (Roberts 75), Maplesden (Bravo 65), List (T. Davies 65), Hunter (Bergmanas 77), Quigley (R. Davies 57), Challinor, Hotson (Phelan 75), Makaafi, Hills (c), Shaw.

Plymouth Albion: Rayner , Homan, Howley-Berridge, Woods, Warner, Shanahan (Henry 7), Williams (Davies 57), Fidler (Heard 40), Stagg (Matavesi 57), Tiedemann (Harrison 64), Beukeboom, Patrick (Jubb 40), Grieve (c), Grace, Bone (Langley 40).

Referee: S Lee (RFU).