COVENTRY Rugby held off a late Doncaster Knights fightback to claim a breathless 24-23 victory and end their three-game losing run.
The home side led by 12 points early in the second period after tries from Obinna Nkwocha, Ryan Hutler and David Opoku and nine points from the boot of Tommy Mathews.
However, the Knights staged a dramatic comeback courtesy of two penalties and a try after the hour mark only for Russell Bennett to miss a penalty attempt with the last kick of the game at Butts Park Arena.
The result means Coventry sit third in the Championship table, behind Bedford Blues on points difference.
Cov scored the game’s first try on 16 minutes when Nkwocha reacted quickest to dive on a loose lineout tap as Mathews added the extras.
However, Doncaster responded with a try of their own three minutes later as Maliq Holden dotted down and Bennett converted following a fine break and chip ahead from Telusa Veainu.
And the Knights struck again just two minutes later when Zach Kerr raced in from 50-metres out with Bennett unable to add the extras.
Coventry reclaimed the lead on 24 minutes as Hutler received Mathews’ pass and finished well on the angle as the latter kicked the conversion.
Alex Rae’s side crossed again on 34 minutes when Opoku forced his way over the line and Mathews converted after Daf Tiueti recovered a Doncaster chip inside the away team’s own 22.
The converted try sent Cov into the break with a nine-point advantage which was quickly extended to 12 moments after the break courtesy of Mathews’ penalty.
Doncaster kept themselves in the contest on the hour mark as Bennett kicked a penalty before guiding the ball through the posts again four minutes later with another effort from 40-metres out.
And the Knights dotted down their third try four minutes from time as Harry Davey scored in the left corner with Bennett unable to convert from the touchline.
However, the visitors had one last chance to snatch the points after winning a penalty at the scrum on Cov’s 10-metre line as Bennett once again missed the target with the final kick of the game.
Coventry are next in action against Bedford Blues on Friday, January 24 with kick-off at 7.45pm at Goldington Road.
