Jacob Rowen scores a try for Leeds Carnegie against Doncaster Knights.
The young Leeds Carnegie side gave a much-improved performance, but were undone by a clinical display from Doncaster Knights.
There had been a great deal of soul searching in the Carnegie camp following the hammering at Cornish Pirates eight days earlier.
Head coach Diccon Edwards made a number of changes from the team that lost so heavily in Cornwall and was forced to make two further late alterations with Jon Pendlebury and Scott Barrow ruled out in the final training session.
However, those factors seemed to be brushed aside as Leeds took the game to a bigger and more experienced Knights outfit. Carnegie used quick handling and pace to disrupt the visitors with Pete Lucock, Joe Barker and Tommy Bell making half breaks early on.
Leeds got their reward when Jacob Rowan picked up a loose ball and went down the blindside to score untouched after 17 minutes. Bell added the conversion to make it 7-0.
Doncaster were stunned into action and their pack took matters into their own hands soon afterwards. They took possession just inside the Leeds 22 and rumbled forward before prop Tom Davies crashed over. Tom Luke was off target with the conversion.
Leeds increased their lead further with two penalties from Bell after 23 and 29 minutes which was just reward for their attack-minded play.
Robbie Shaw gave the team great direction at scrum-half whilst the close support play from the forwards will have been pleasing for Edwards.
However, Leeds were caught napping by Doncaster when they were penalised for offside after a knock on 30 metres out.
The Knights took a quick tap and a good exchange of passes released Ollie Goss to score in the corner. Luke missed the conversion.
However, the Doncaster fly-half soon levelled the scores with a penalty three minutes before the break and the visitors went in front for the first time with a penalty from inside his own half by full-back David McIlwane.
It was a disappointing end to an up beat half from the home side who had dominated possession and territory.
Leeds were able to draw level almost straight away at the start of the second half when Bell struck from half way with a penalty.
However, just as Leeds had dominated the first half, the second half belonged to Doncaster who were virtually camped on the Carnegie line.
It took some fine defence to keep them out with the Knights pack on top.
Having seen off the challenge, Leeds managed to get some field position following a good break by Ollie Richards and a strong kick chase from Lee Blackett.
However, just as it appeared Leeds may have a platform to attack from deep in Knights territory, a wayward lineout throw lost the momentum.
Doncaster made them pay when they broke up field. Full-back McIlwane sliced through the defence 40 metres out and just evaded the desperate attempted tackles of Bell and Richards to recover and go over for a try. Replacement Mike Whitehead added the conversion.
The Knights then rubbed salt into the wound when they scored a bonus- point fourth try with the final play of the game.
It was symptomatic of the day for Leeds. Barker made a great break in midfield but appeared to be taken out by a high shot to the back of the head.
With the officials seeing no problem, play was waved on and eventually Whitehead took the return pass to score between the posts.
He added his own conversion to complete a 30-16 win for the South Yorkshire visitors.
LEEDS CARNEGIE: Bell, Richards, Thornley, Barrow, Blackett, Barker, Shaw, Denman, Titterrell, Swainston, Beck, Pendlebury, Rowan, Walker, Burrows. Replacements: Freer, Lockwood, Young, Hohneck, Rieder, White, Ford.
DONCASTER KNIGHTS: McIlwaine, Flockhart, Goss, Gidlow, Keating, Luke, Hallam, Davies, Boden, Brown, Challinor, Kenworthy, Makaafi, Farivarz, Planchant. Replacements: Brown, Burke-Flynn, Parsons, Noone, Bradford, Audis, Whitehead.
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