The thread on which Doncaster Knights’ Championship status dangles upon is down to its last strand of fibre following a 13-10 defeat on ‘Survival Saturday’ against Jersey.
National One rugby is beckoning Clive Griffiths’ side as they are now nine points adrift of their second bottom hosts, leaving their eight year stay in English rugby’s second tier at a likely end.
Now Doncaster must pick up maximum points from their final two games plus hope Jersey pick up nothing from their final day trip to Cornish Pirates.
A first half haul of 13 points proved enough for the hosts to strike a quite possibly fatal blow in the survival battle.
It could not have started much worse for the Knights as a powerful rolling maul was finished by Fred Silcock with only five minutes on the clock.
Jamie Lennard reduced the deficit with a penalty on a day when accuracy evaded the kickers for both sides.
A loose ball was pounced upon by Rob Anderson with Guy Thompson completing the move to extend the hosts’ lead. And a penalty from Mike Le Bourgeois saw Jersey carry a 10 point lead into the break.
Ben Sowery touched down for the Knights but it proved too little too late.