Knights can take heart in last-gasp defeat

Doncaster Knights played the exciting brand of rugby that saw them beat Nottingham the previous weekend and, but for a long-range penalty two minutes from time, would have followed this up with a deserved victory over promotion co-favourites Exeter.

Two well-matched, powerful packs and two sets of attack-minded backs produced the most exciting match seen at Castle Park this season.

Although beaten, the Knights faithful left Castle Park with renewed optimism.

Knights fly-half Brooks opened the scoring with a penalty after 20 minutes but this was cancelled out by Gray.

Brooks put his side back in front before Chiefs centre Rennie came back on a switch move to score the game's opening try. Gray's conversion put his side ahead.

After three minutes of the second half, Knights gained possession at a ruck just outside their own 22 and a chip over the top by scrum-half Chris Hallam was gathered by full-back Carter on halfway and his quick pass to Goss put the winger on a race down the touchline to beat the covering defence to score.

Gray kicked a penalty to put his team back in front.

With 52 minutes gone, winger Foster was hauled down inches short but centre Nic Sesteret was on hand to score a try that the referee only awarded after consultation with the touch judge – the Knights claiming there had been a double movement.

The Knights again took the game back to the Chiefs and were rewarded for their efforts when Brooks kicked his third penalty after 57 minutes.

After several exciting passages of play, winger Wright raced the last 20 metres to score in the corner to put the Knights back in front – Brooks narrowly failing to convert.

With less than five minutes left, a second controversial incident occurred when the Knights were penalised for holding on after a tackle in spite of the fact the video later showed that the ball had squirted out of the side of the ruck as the referee indicated the penalty. Gray's successful strike from 47 metres put the Chiefs back in front and gave them the match.

Doncaster Knights: Carter (McColl 58), Wright, Armitage, Briers, Goss, Brooks, Hallam (Griffiths N 74), Toke (Thiede 70), Boden (Lawrie 66), Ta'u (Cusack 40), Kenworthy (Griffiths B 40), Townson, Boyde (Kettle 61), Cochrane, Grainger.

Exeter Chiefs: Dollman, Jess, Sesteret, Rennie (Jones 59), Foster, Gray, Thomas, Sturgess, Clark (Alcott 53), Budgen (Tui 58), Hayes, Hanks (Gannon 70), Johnson, Baxter, Scaysbrook. Unused replacements: Miller, Stuart-Smith, Cornwell.