Doncaster Knights win at London Scottish to go top of Championship

Sam Hudson was among Doncaster's try scorers in the win over London Scottish. Photo: John Ashton

Steve Boden’s side recorded their third consecutive bonus point victory with a five-try 39-19 success at the Richmond Athletic Ground on Boxing Day.

The win moved Knights above Jersey and Cornish Pirates in the table and level on points with leaders Ealing Trailfinders.

Doncaster have played two more games than Ealing but go top by virtue of having won one more game than the promotion favourites.

Knights were the first on the board when Alex Dolly slotted over a penalty.

The first try soon arrived when Sam Hudson put in a grubber kick on a fumbled ball which Dolly chased down to score before converting.

Hudson then claimed a five-pointer of his own as he scored from a pick and go and Dolly converted.

Five minutes before half time, Scottish got themselves on the board when Sam Baker crossed for the hosts, before Harry Sheppard added the conversion.

A double blow arrived for Doncaster as Billy McBryde was sin-binned for a high tackle which occurred just before the hosts’ first try.

But the 14 men of Doncaster extended their lead through Maliq Holden, with Dolly’s conversion moving the away side’s points total to 24.

Nick Selway claimed an unconverted try for the hosts in a frantic end to the first half but Doncaster had their bonus point in the bag 16 minutes into the second half.

After a period of pressure on the Scottish line, Andrew Foster broke the resistance.

Tom Georgiou responded with a converted try but that was to be the home side’s last points as Dolly added his second penalty of the afternoon before Will Holling rounded off matters with a fifth Doncaster try late on.

London Scottish: Georgiou, Baker, Fielding, Pohe, Halaifonua; Sheppard, Hoadley; Nwakor, Selway, Roots, Tyas, Ehizode, Wilson, Ingall, King. Replacements: Petty, Rees, Gibson, Baldwin, Tuilagi, Dawes, May, Hanks.

Knights: Davey; Spittle, Strachan, Edwards, Holden; McBryde, Dolly; Davidson, Roberts, Foster, Kelly, Drake, Volpi, Hudson, Smith. Replacements: Holling, Carlile, Denman, Peters, Oram, Green, Olver, Graham.