Doncaster Knights 7 Nottingham 38: Knights go out with a whimper as Nottingham grab lifeline

Nottingham needed a bonus-point victory at Castle Park to keep their promotion hopes alive but Doncaster, already unable to progress to the semi-finals, were playing only for pride.

The visitors drew first blood when a loose ball was booted ahead and chased for Nottingham’s Argentine centre Juan Socino to ground over the try-line. Japan international fly-half James Arlidge added the extras.

Doncaster fought back and piled on the pressure at the scrum, their forward strength paying dividends when centre PJ Gidlow powered over for a try after Nottingham’s Filipo Levi has been sin-binned. Dougie Flockhart’s conversion levelled the scores.

The first half ended in controversy when Knights full-back Michael Keating was shown a yellow card for a dangerous spear tackle, and the sides were locked 7-7 at the break.

It was the Midlands outfit who were quickest out of the traps as the second half began, stating their intention of taking maximum points from the encounter when winger Andrew Savage went over in the corner despite some messy build-up play. Arlidge nudged a tricky conversion.

Socino grabbed his second try when another onslaught of the Knights’ try-line allowed him to break the defensive line. Arlidge once again converted.

Doncaster replacements Latu Makaafi and Chris Planchant made an impact, both making surging runs as Knights attempted to get back in the game.

Yet Nottingham delivered the sucker punch when a quick off-load bamboozled the defence, enabling winger Alex Lewington to claim the crucial fourth try. They then scored their fifth in the final minute through captain Brent Wilson.

Doncaster Knights: Keating, Flockhart, Burdon, Gidlow, Toft, Quinn-McDonogh, Heaney, Davies (Andy Brown 59), Boden (Yeandle 40), Francis (Alex Brown 54), Smith (Boyde 70), Parsons (Makaafi 50), Challinor, Farivarz (Bradford 70), Kettle (Planchant 50).

Nottingham: Jackson, Savage (Erinle 67), Streather, Socino, Lewington, Arlidge (Hallett 70), Romans (Barnham 55), Parr (Holford 60), Duffey (Shaw 70), Bower, Green (Hammond 56), Rouse (Holloway 70), Kalamafoni, Wilson, Levi.

Referee: R Campbell (RFU).