Doncaster Knights coach Griffiths buoyed after ‘best win yet’ over Bristol

Doncaster Knights in training with director of rugby, Clive Griffiths

The South Yorkshire club stunned their big-spending opponents on Friday inflicting only Bristol’s second defeat of the season and moving to within three points of top spot themselves.

It is a result that has sent shockwaves around the division and marked third-placed Doncaster’s arrival as genuine contenders just 12 months after looking like relegation fodder following nine successive league defeats.

“We went out with the intention to play and not be too restrained with the players,” said director of rugby Griffiths.

“We looked at it again this morning and, at 24-24, maybe a lot of teams would have settled for that at Bristol.

“But the boys returned a kick and 15 phases later they were over again and we deserved it.

“It was a bit nervy when Bristol had back to back penalties at one stage and with the scrums as usual it was a toss of a coin but we did deserve that win.

“We scored five tries, all different types too.

“And I have to say, in context, considering the resources that Bristol have and actually being at Bristol, it has to be the best victory we’ve had since I’ve been at the club.”

Welshman Griffiths returned for his second stint at Castle Park in November 2012 having steered them to a finest-ever finish of third in 2006-07 – a feat they now hope to emulate – before departing in a controversial move to Worcester.

“I was talking to Kendo (coach Glen Kenworthy) about our best wins and there was the season we did the double over Rotherham and, in the last but one game, went there and scored five tries knowing Rotherham had to beat us and Leeds to get into the Premiership,” he added.

“There was also the one when we won 44-0 in the mud at Waterloo to go top for the first time in the club’s history in 2007.

“There was the B&I Cup semi-final win over Bristol last season but that was at home and so, when you look at who Bristol had at 10 on Friday (Gavin Henson) and who they had to come on (fellow Wales fly-half Matthew Morgan), I think that shows just how big this was.”

Doncaster, who have won six of their opening nine Championship games, start their latest British & Irish Cup campaign at Jersey on Saturday.

However, understandably, Griffiths “wishes” they had another league game to get stuck into as the competition’s surprise package continue their revival.