COVENTRY RFC’s Championship Cup campaign started with a disappointing 22-7 defeat against Doncaster Knights at Castle Park.
The game was scoreless at the end of the first 40 minutes in an underwhelming first period that was littered with a lack of discipline and handling errors.
However, Coventry took the lead early in the second half when Rhys Thomas burrowed over the line and Evan Mitchell landed the conversion.
Doncaster responded almost immediately when a driving maul powered over the line from five-metres out as Theo Vukasinovic claimed the try.
And the home side took the lead when Sale Sharks loanee Joe Bedlow and Jared Cardew linked up well before Sam Daly finished the move.
Coventry went in search of a response only to be caught out when Doncaster ran in their third try as another driving maul ended in a try as George Roberts dotted down.
And Doncaster struck again through a driving maul as Daly crossed for his second try which ended any hopes of a Coventry comeback.
Coventry are next in action away at Bedford Blues on Friday, November 11 with kick-off at 7.45pm at Goldington Road.