Report: Doncaster Knights 27-22 Bristol Rugby

The visitors scored three tries at Castle Park as Nick Koster, Charlie Amesbury and Mitch Eadie all crossed, but it wasn’t enough to stave off a second defeat of the season in all competitions.

Nick Koster handed Bristol the perfect start when the flanker collected David Lemi’s inside pass to round off a flowing counter attack.

The lead lasted little more than five minutes however, as Richard List crashed over under a pile of bodies for a converted try, leveling proceedings at 7-7.

Nicky Robinson’s penalty goal nudged Bristol ahead, before Jack Lam was held up over the whitewash after a typically rampaging break.

Dougie Flockhart’s long-range penalty drew Doncaster level, before the Knights took the lead for the first time in the game.

When Ollie Stedman snaffled up a stray pass, the no.8 rumbled his way – unopposed - over from sixty metres to touch down for a converted try.

Moments before the interval, Anthony Perenise was yellow-carded for a professional foul as Bristol were reduced to fourteen men.

Bristol started the second half in similar fashion to the first, reducing the arrears through Charlie Amesbury’s well-taken try in the corner.

But Robinson couldn’t add the conversion and Flockhart’s penalty goal almost immediately after the restart gave Doncaster breathing space at 20-15.

And the Knights pushed further ahead when skipper Michael Hills darted over from close range, while the ever-reliable Flockhart converted.

After Paul Jarvis was sin-binned for Doncaster, David Lemi had a try chalked off after referee Andrew Jackson spotted an adjudged foot in touch.

Dougie Flockhart skewed a penalty goal attempt wide of the upright and, with ten minutes remaining, Mitch Eadie’s powerful converted effort put Bristol within five points.

The visitors piled on the pressure in the closing stages but, despite Lam going close, Doncaster held out to secure the win and end Bristol’s B&I Cup hopes.

Paul Jarvis; Dougie Flockhart, Mat Clark, Bevon Armitage, Tyson Lewis; Ume Fosita, Brad Field; Richard List, Vili Veikoso, WillGriff John, Jon Phelan, Tyler Hotson, Phil Eggleshaw, Michael Hills, Ollie Stedman.

Replacements: Tom Davies (for Richard List 62 mins), Jack Bergmanas (for Vili Veikoso, 71 mins), Latu Makaafi (for Phil Eggleshaw, 58 mins), Colin Quigley (for WillGriff John, 69 mins), Will Foden, Paul Roberts, Bruno Bravo (for Brad Field, 73 mins).

Bristol Rugby:

Jack Wallace; Charlie Amesbury, Jack Tovey, Ben Mosses, David Lemi; Nicky Robinson, Craig Hampson; Kyle Traynor, Ross McMillan, Anthony Perenise, Ryan Jones (c), Ben Glynn, Nick Koster, Jack Lam, Mitch Eadie.

Replacements: Rhys Lawrence (for Ross McMillan, 64 mins), Gaston Cortes (for Anthony Perenise, 54 mins), Joe Joyce, Josh Ovens, Tim Turner, Adrian Jarvis, George Watkins (for David Lemi, 60 mins).

Referee: Andrew Jackson