London Welsh 26 Doncaster Knights 10: Much to do for Knights after early defeat

A disappointing performance by Doncaster Knights, not aided by unsympathetic refereeing, resulted in London Welsh taking first blood in the opening game of the pool stage of the Championship's promotion play-offs.

Welsh's bonus-point victory puts the Knights needing to play to their full potential to achieve a semi-final place.

London Welsh started with the advantage of a strong wind and Yorkshireman and right wing Paul Sampson dived over in the corner in the 11th minute.

Doncaster withstood the continued assault but struggled to gain meaningful possession.

Welsh used the wind well and the Knights lost flanker Adam Kettle with a dead leg after 32 minutes and he was replaced by Simon Grainger.

Welsh then won possession on one wing and switched it to the other where Sampson collected a forward-looking pass to score his second try that full-back Aled Thomas converted from the touchline.

Turning around 12 points down and with the wind in their favour, the Knights were by no means out of the game and they almost scored at once through winger Matt Williams but, unfortunately, he sustained an ankle injury and he was replaced by James Brooks.

The Knights laid siege and, although the referee awarded three penalties and a free-kick against Welsh, he failed to award a penalty try and they managed to clear their line.

The Knights eventually got on the scoreboard after 50 minutes through a penalty by fly-half Ali Warnock.

Welsh scored next when they moved the ball quickly to the left where wing Errie Claasens side-stepped inside the cover to score and Thomas converted.

The Knights came straight back when winger Dougie Flockhart broke through two tackles before the ball was moved inside to flanker Cochrane, who made ground before putting supporting lock Glen Townson on an unstoppable 15-metre charge to the line for a try that Warnock converted.

Welsh came back and with just five minutes left, No 8 Lee Beech broke from a scrum 10 metres out to run unopposed to the line for a try which Thomas converted, leaving no way back.

London Welsh: Thomas, Sampson, Shabbo, Gower, Claasens, Ross, Runciman, Williams, Whitehead, Ward, Corker, Powell, Mills, Beach, Hills. Replacements: Gotting, Thomas B, O'Meara, Lewis, Evans.

Doncaster Knights: Carter, Flockhart, Armitage, McColl, Williams (Brooks 46), Warnock, Hallam, Corsar, Lawrie (Boden 62), Ta'u (Cusack 41), Townson, Griffiths B, Kettle (Grainger 32), Boyde, Cochrane. Unused replacements: D'Arcy, Toke, Kenworthy.