Coventry’s injury hit squad battled bravely at Castle Park before falling to defeat, which for a 20 minute or so period in the first half looked as if it conceivably would finally end up being a great deal bigger than finally materialised.

There can be no denying there were disappointing elements to the performance with a number of key tackles being missed and points conceded at important times, but there nevertheless can be positives taken from the defeat.

The difficulties did begin up front where with key forwards particularly in the front five absent, securing and retaining attacking positions was always difficult even though the line out area displayed  an improvement of recent showings. A penalty count against of 16 –6 also made life pretty difficult and frustrating.

Playing in red change strip, Coventry were in front from the 3rd minute, Ronnie McLean slotting a 35 metre penalty after the Knights infringed at the first scrum. The next quarter however saw Cov frantically back peddling as Doncaster built a 10-3 lead by the 13th minute through a Griffiths try and penalty and conversion from Lennard. Indeed even that early it could easily have been worse, but to their credit, Coventry really then dug in.

Cov’s first real entry into the home half save for the early penalty came after 21 minutes and after good ball had been won, the powerful George Dixon surged through the middle before sending Myles Dorrian over wide out, the McLean conversion attempt just missing.

Seven minute later following more intense pressure on the home line, the ball bobbed loose for Jamie Miller to pounce for his first try of the season, Ronnie McLean this time judging his conversion well for 10 – 15.

The lead, which was never to be regained again lasted just four minutes, when from a defending scrum  Cov were adjudged to have pulled it down, referee Hall awarding a penalty try converted by Lennard. Seven minutes into added on time at the break, a third try was conceded at a desperately important time, a chip out of defence going wrong before Doncaster countered sending the dangerous Armitage powering over for Lennard to convert. 24 –15 at the break and two scores behind.

There followed in the opening period of the second half  real stalemate with Coventry singularly failing to break out of their half for any length of time and Doncaster through dogged defence despite having the pressure positions being constantly repelled until with Darren Clayton yellow carded for deliberately killing the ball, the Knights countered as Cov lost possession sending Van Vuuren clear on the left to clinch a bonus point, Lennard landing a splendid conversion.

From 31-15 down it was difficult to see a way back, but with home scrum half Hallam also receiving yellow for a professional foul on 73 minutes as Clayton returned, from a close in line out and maul, Nathan Jones burst round the narrow side for his first try of the season, the Mc Lean conversion leaving Cov  two points short of securing a losing bonus point with five minutes to go.

A final penalty from Lennard however erased any hopes a point could be achieved.

Coventry. Myles Dorrian, Ronnie McLean, George Dixon, Donovan Sanders, Ollie Winter, Tommy Hayes, Nathan Jones, Ricky Whitehall, Chris Whitehead, Rob Dugard, Rob Walton, Carl Burgess, Jamie Miller, Darren Clayton, Laurie McGlone (Capt).

Replacements; Paul Ensor for Whitehall, Ben Russell for Hayes, Greg Thomas for Miller, Stewart Pearl for Whitehead, Ben Pons for Clayton, Laurence Sanderson for Dugard.

Coventry. Tries; Myles Dorrian, Jamie Miller, Nathan Jones. Conversions; Ronnie McLean 2. Penalty goal; McLean

Doncaster. Tries; David Griffiths, Bevon Armitage, Donovan Van Vuuren, Penalty try. Conversion; Jamie Lennard 4. Penalty goal; Lennard