London Scottish 20 Doncaster Knights 26: Knights secure play-off berth

With customary character in this remarkable season, the Castle Park men returned from big-spending London Scottish with a maximum five-point haul which means they cannot be overhauled by fifth-placed Nottingham.

Only Bristol, the promotion favourites, are higher in the Championship and have won more games than Clive Griffiths’s side.

It had started badly as well, as they trailed 10-0 after just a few moments but they responded quickly with Latu Makaafi scoring from the back of a lineout.

Will Hurrell then scored a fine try which Declan Cusack converted to give Doncaster a 
14-10 lead at the break.

Jason Harries, who had been the architect of the Exiles first try, doubled his tally at the start of the second period as Scottish reasserted themselves on the contest. Peter Lydon converted and then kicked a penalty to stretch the hosts’ lead further.

But from another lineout, and after Makaafi was held up, the ball was recycled and WillGriff John bundled over.

Knowing a bonus point would earn them a play-off berth, Doncaster duly delivered as Michael Heaney helped send Andy Bulumakau racing away to keep the Knights dreaming of the Premiership

London Scottish: Lydon, Smith, Fergusson, A. Grove, Harries, Newton, Heeks, Cosgrove, Kwasnicki, Shields, Bartle, Thomas-Brown, Olmstead, Du Plessis, Bright. Replacements: Moran, Hallam, Maidment, Patrick, Horne, O. Grove, Packman.

Doncaster Knights: Cusack, Bulumakau, M. Clark, Hurrell, Lewis, Humberstone, Heaney, List, Hunter, Quigley, Challinor, Phelan, Makaafi, Hills, Shaw. Replacements: Stagg, Sproston, W. John, Hotson, Young, Bryant, Field.