Johnston and Pennycook are injury worries for Bristol Rugby after Doncaster defeat

Bristol Rugby face an anxious wait to discover the severity of injuries suffered by Ross Johnston and Redford Pennycook in their shock Championship defeat at Doncaster.

Paul Hull's side were beaten 26-22 at Castle Park on Saturday – their second defeat of the season and only struggling Doncaster's second victory.

But of more concern to head coach Hull than the result will be injuries suffered by try-scoring hooker Johnston and flanker Pennycook.

Johnston was carried off on a stretcher after suffering a leg injury 49 minutes into the match – and he left Castle Park on crutches.

And Pennycook was taken to hospital in a neck brace after being hurt shortly after the hour mark on what turned out to be an afternoon to forget for Hull's promotion-chasing side.

Bristol Rugby host Coventry on Friday – and are facing a hooking crisis if both Johnston and David Blaney, who missed Saturday's defeat with a broken finger, miss out.

Hull said: "We think Ross has injured his knee, so we'll wait and see how that pans out.

It was a bruising encounter – we knew Doncaster would be physical, and they were.

"Redford has gone for some X-rays and it's round the neck or shoulder area, so we'll have to wait and see on that one, too.

"We've got a good medical team and they'll do what's best for the players. It's obviously not good if they are injured, but we'll have to wait for more news."

Bristol are already without the injured Lee Robinson, Mat Turner, Ed Barnes, Nathan Budgett and Bertrand Bedes – and their squad is likely to be tested to its limits over the coming weeks.

And skipper Jason Spice hinted Johnston and Pennycook were not the only Bristol players to suffer injuries at Castle Park on Saturday.

"There are more than just those two down – we've got quite a large casualty list and that's disappointing," said the New Zealander.

"A couple of those guys might be out longer than we'd hope, but that will test our squad and it gives someone else the chance to put their hand up.

"And that's the way it's got to be, because it's a long season and we have to rely on a decent-sized squad."

Bristol Rugby led 8-0 after Johnston's unconverted try and an Adrian Jarvis penalty, but two Doncaster tries in the 12 minutes before half-time turned the contest on its head.

Dan Norton's seventh try of the season made it 26-22 in the closing minutes but, despite Bristol enjoying bags of possession during 13 minutes of second-half stoppage time, they could not find a way through.

Head coach Hull said: "There were a couple of opportunities at the end – and that's what you've got to be able to do at this level: you've got to be able to play under a bit of pressure and show composure."