Nottingham 27 Doncaster 21: Tonks denies Doncaster

The Knights have been out of action for the past month thanks to the big freeze and will be disappointed by the evening's result.

Much the better side for long periods of the game they were unlucky not to capitalise on the opportunities they created.

Nottingham kept ahead with the successful boot of 20-year-old fly half Greig Tonks and the Knights simply couldn't break through.

The visitors' indiscipline cost them with Bryn Griffiths first into the sin bin but a penalty from Steven McColl kept them in touch 9-3, before a penalty from James Brookes.

Tonks was first over the line as he scooped up a scrappy ball to take the score to 14-6.

Another Tonks penalty and a sneaky try from No 8 Phil Eggleshaw pushed Nottingham further ahead.

Brookes crossed to take his side 24-14 ahead before Hudson Tonga'uiha dived over to slash the deficit to just three points.

But Tonks settled the home side's nerves and broke Doncaster's spirited fightback when he pushed the final score to 27-21 with another successful kick.