DONCASTER'S Knight-mare start to the season continued with a narrow home defeat to struggling Coventry.
Lynn Howells' injury-ravaged side produced glimpses of the attacking rugby they are more famed for at Castle Park - and looked set to record their first win of the season when they took a 14-10 lead early in the second half.
But a resilient Coven
try side refused to be beaten and spent the last quarter of the game camped in Knights' territory to fight back and claim a hard-earned win.
The visitors went ahead when winger Romain Planey took advantage of space on the left for a try converted by George Crook on six minutes.
Ali Warnock hit back with a penalty for Doncaster before Crook again put Coventry seven points ahead with a penalty of his own midway through the first half.
Steve McColl, a replacement for injured fly half James Brooks, got the Knights back into the game when he collected an Adam Kettle pass to score on 22 minutes.
And the Knights went ahead early in the second period through two Warnock penalties from close range.
But the home side were again made to pay for some poor finishing and decision-making as Coventry regained the lead courtesy of a David Maddix try, and Ben Russell conversion, on the hour.
The visitors then dominated the game in terms of possession and territory as the Knights were pinned back in their own half for almost 20 minutes.
Deep into stoppage time Doncaster did finally break and were awarded a 40-yard penalty opportunity to level the game - only for Warnock's kick to lack distance and direction.
The three-point margin meant the Knights collected their first losing bonus point of the new Championship season - but that was little consolation for a sixth successive league defeat.
Team: Warnock, Briers, Armitage, Tonga'uiha, Flockhart, Brooks (McColl 17), D'Arcy (Hallam 65), Corsar (Thiede 82), Boden, Cusack (Toke 61), Townson, Griffiths, Kettle, Boyde (Smith 65), Grainger. Subs not used: Lawrie, Davey.
