Coventry 37 Doncaster 24

Centre Dave Tieuti's close-range injury-time try saw Coventry to a vital home win, his score ensuring a maximum five-point haul for the second successive week following victory at Otley.

A mixture of solid defence and sharp finishing were the foundation stones for the win.

Doncaster raised their game during the second period, ex-Coventry centre, John Cannon, catching the eye with some sharp probing runs and replacement flanker Russell Earnshaw, on after 48 minutes for Ryan Peacey, also setting off on some bullocking, surging runs as Doncaster's second-half pick-and-go game almost brought a win double for the Yorkshiremen.

For the 2,198 spectators, the game was never less than compelling with Coventry full value for the win despite the late scares.

They stuck to their game plan, a running game with the three-quarters and the forwards - some would say under-strength in the second row - minus the sidelined Ben Gulliver (injury) and Paul Clapham (suspension). Stand-ins Hendry Rheeders and Dave Campton strove manfully to combat the expertise of ex-Rotherham lock Glen Kenworthy, and Dan Cook.

But strive they did and their fellow pack members refused to take a backward step against a strong Doncaster eight.

The difference in game styles was evident, the Coventry performance being based on quick hands and swift passing, Doncaster having more of a ball-in-hand, 'upand-at-'em' approach.

Both sides had stand-out tries. Dave Millard's maiden league try came on 16 minutes, just after Michael Wood had cancelled out Nik Witkowski's third-minute opener as the former Rotherham flyer almost effortlessly crossed after a final pass from full-back John Benson.

Millard's try, ironically, came after Wood just failed to intercept a pass from fly-half John Higgins, the Coventry winger surefootedly managing to stay in play and fly along the wing to score, James Moore converted both.

Moore's try, early in the second half, came after Rheeders and Apoua Stewart combined to send Moore racing home in front of the East Stand. This was the icing on his performance, the winger's conversion of all four tries, plus three penalties making for a 22-point haul.

Visiting hooker Jonny Roddam's close-range tries, on 30 and 68 minutes, were the result of Doncaster forward power causing some concern. But Coventry rode out the storm to claim the bonus point with Tieuti's late try, Moore converting with the last kick of the game.

Mike Umaga, Coventry's director of rugby, said: "I'm happy with the win, I still think we could have done a lot better but there is always room for improvement.

"Credit to Doncaster - they retained the ball pretty well, so hats off to them, but our boys kept their discipline and Doncaster didn't get much from the positions they had, our boys played pretty well.

"The boys showed last week they can play for the full 80 minutes and today we also played pretty well, we kept our concentration, knowing that a try would give us a bonus point and it worked out alright for us."

Referee Richard Draper's unfussy approach to the game is also worthy of praise in allowing the game to flow. On this performance, he could be a referee destined to be gracing far grander surroundings than the Butts Park Arena.