Bristol eye Premiership return after 28-13 win in first-leg of Championship final

Doncaster 13-28 Bristol, Castle Park

A spirited performance from Bristol have taken them close to a Premiership return after they defeated Doncaster Knights by 28-13 in the Championship play-off final first leg.

Andy Robinson and Sean Holley's men put up a dominant performance in the second half adding 17 points after trailing the Knight by 13-11 at the half-time. The first half for Doncaster Knights was powered by a try from Will Hurrell while fly-half Dec Cusack added eight points.

It was the skipper David Lemi, who responded with a try in the first-half Bristol and had to leave the field with a head injury but Ross McMillan and Ben Glynn crossed over in the second half and added 14 points in quick succession to ensure they took the game away from Doncaster Knights.

Bristol fly-half Callum Sheedy contributed with three penalties and two conversions as Bristol completed a convincing victory in the first-leg of the Championship final.

The second final of the Championship will be played at Ashton Gate on 25th May and Bristol will be keen to make a Premiership return after they were relegated in 2009.