PROMOTION challengers Doncaster proved too strong for a Tigers side caught cold from the kick-off, conceding five tries in the first half-hour.

Touchdowns from South African pair Freeman Payne and Jan Van DeVenter either side of half-time, followed by a second for 'Jaylo' on the hour closed the gap. But the visitors ran in two more touchdowns in the last seven minutes to cruise to victory and prevent the Tigers from gaining a losing bonus point for the second week in succession.

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Despite making eight changes to the team that sank at Northampton the previous week, Lyn Howells’ Knights cruised into a match winning lead, with the bonus point secured as early as the 27th minute.

The highlight was Wes Davies’ hat trick, which included an interception and 60-metre run-in; winger Donovan Van Vuuren then put him in between the posts before Davies hared downfield in support of Number 8 Chris Planchant before pouncing onto recycled ball.

The Knights’ opening touchdown came from hooker Steve Boden from a lineout catch-and-drive. The other came from Van Vuuren, who rounded off an impressive backs move. With Mark Woodrow adding the extras to four out of five, the Knights led 0-33 in as many minutes.

Indeed, it was not until the 36th minute that the Tigers seemed to be aware they were in a game. Ground had been made in the centre before Freeman Payne went over in the corner in the Tigers’ first real attack.

With words of wisdom and encouragement no doubt strongly administered in the half-time break, the Tigers emerged for the second half in determined mood.

Tigers’ pressure resulted in penalties being conceded by the visitors, with lock Glen Kenworthy yellow-carded, and as the Tigers began to dominate the set-pieces chances began to be created.

On at least two occasions they were prevented from scoring by timely tackles. But the Knights had no answer when the Tigers fashioned an overlap on the left allowing Jan Van DeVenter to go over for his first try of the afternoon.

The home side continued to control things and the bounce of the ball finally went their way, literally, when Van DeVenter chased a punt downfield and the ball bobbled up nicely into his hands to give him the easiest of run-ins and make the conversion for Phil Jones that much easier: 17-33.

The Knights lost another player to the sin bin, Oliver Cook, but this time the Tigers could not make it work to their advantage and the last ten minutes was all Doncaster, as first Simon Grainger and then Paul Bailey crossed for touchdowns.

Despite the scoreline the Tigers, deprived of the services of fullback Matt Riley, winger Chris Hall and skipper Jimmy Ponton through injury, deserved at least a losing point, but they just couldn’t get that fourth try, just like the previous week at Nottingham.

SEDGLEY PARK: Nutt, Payne, Craig (O’Hare 77), Briers, Van DeVenter, Jones, Albinson (Leck 69), Gazzola (Du Plessis 45), Roddam (Roberts 74), Halsall, Fourie (Townson 45), Norris, Crous (Livesey 74), Newton, Skurr.
Replacement not used: Birchall.
Tries: Payne (36) and Van DeVenter (55 and 60).
Conversions: Jones 1.
 
DONCASTER: Carter, W. Davies, Davey, Luke, Van Vuuren (Bailey 55), Woodrow (Hunt 75), Jones (Nicoud 62), T. Davies (List 50), Boden, Rawson (Tau 50), Griffiths, Kenworthy, Gray (Cook 46), Grainger, Planchant.
Replacement not used: Mark Soden.
Tries: Boden (8); W. Davies (10, 20 and 33); Van Vuuren (27); Bailey (73) and Grainger (79).
Conversions: Woodrow 5, Luke 1.
Yellow cards: Kenworthy 44 and Cook (71)