Doncaster Knights 23-35 Pontypridd

An early exchange of penalties between the Knights' outside half Tristan Roberts and his opposite number Simon Humberstone got the scoring sequence underway.

The home team were making the better start, effectively kicking for position and gaining the upper hand in the set pieces.

Doncaster Knights duly went into the lead as centre PJ Gidlow powered through for a try which Roberts converted, the outside half then adding another penalty to extend his side’s advantage.

Having been a long time under pressure, Ponty struck back in first half injury time as winger Owen Williams evaded the cover defence to cross for a try which Humberstone converted, bringing up an interval scoreline of 13pts to 10.

No sooner had the action resumed than home centre Gidlow was sin binned for a high tackle, with Ponty edging back into contention and sending replacement hooker Kristian Dacey over for a try which Humberstone converted.

Tristan Roberts pulled back three points for the Knights through another converted penalty, and Ponty suffering a further setback as try scorer Dacey was yellow carded. The Knights again capitalised, winger Andy Wright chasing through a grubber kick to touchdown, his try converted by Roberts with fifty-three minutes gone.

Ponty’s response was immediate and effective, as scrum half Lewis Jones went over for a crucial try which Humberstone converted. As Humberstone then hoisted over another penalty, Ponty extended their lead to 23pts to 30 going into a tense final ten minutes.

The visitors were now finishing the game strongly, their efforts rewarded as centre Dafydd Lockyer crashed through for a bonus point try, sealing a hard fought away win by 23pts to 35.