'They looked as though they wanted it more' - Clive Griffiths reacts to Doncaster Knights' defeat at Bedford

“Admittedly, we hadn’t had the best preparation and again had a lot of players out,” said director of rugby Clive Griffiths. “But I still felt we put out a decent side – even though we had to bring in Cornish Pirates’ second-rower Cian Romaine, signed four minutes before the transfer deadline, on loan – but overall it was still a disappointing performance.

“As coaches we thought we’d come up with the right game plan and Ben Hunter told me after the game that it wasn’t our fault that we got beaten, it was the players’ attitude.

“The game was lost in the first half when we came in trailing 17-0 after having played down the slope and with the blustery wind.

“They looked as though they wanted it more and both their tries were embarrassing. Their centre ran through our defence in the build-up to the first and then they scored from a catch and drive from over 20 metres out.

“I told the players during the break that they had to get back on script and show that they cared and to be fair they did that for most of the second half.

“It was only two tries to one when it looked as though they could be capable of scoring 50 points after they had opened up a lead 29-0 lead in the third quarter and that was testament to the effort they put in.

“But it’s becoming an all too familiar story away from home; we aren’t starting to play until it’s too late.”