Sheffield Eagles moved into second place in the Kingstone Press Championship tonight with a 4-26 victory over Doncaster in wet and cold conditions at the Keepmoat Stadium.
It was the Eagles’ seventh successive victory, and will put them in good heart for their visit to Featherstone Rovers on Easter Monday, while Doncaster lie firmly at the bottom of the Championship table with seven defeats from seven games.
The Eagles applied much of the early pressure and they went ahead after 20 minutes when former Bradford and Hull KR star Jamie Langley, who was making his first start for the Eagles, went over from a fine pass by Kyle Briggs, with Briggs adding thunable e conversion.
And six minutes later it was another Briggs pass that created a try for Misi Taulapapa, but Pat Walker couldn’t convert.
The Eagles were in again almost on the interval when Mitch Stringer forced his way over, and this time Walker was able to add the conversion to give the Eagles a 0-16 half-time lead.
The Dons were guilty of trying to force the pass too often, leading to mistakes in the difficult conditions, but they were the first to score in te second half on 50 minutes when Sam Doherty touched down out wide, but Sanderson was unable to add the conversion.
Doncaster halfback Danny Nicklas was sinbinned for dissent, and the Dons did well not to concede any more points while he was off the field.
But it was the Eagles who wrapped up the game with seven minutes remaining when Rob Worrincy touched down from a pass by Cory Aston, although Walker again failed with the conversion.
And it was Aston who rubbed salt into the wound, when he raced at least half the length of the field to score just before the hooter, with Walker’s conversion making the final score 4-26.
A full report will feature in Monday’s edition of Rugby League Express.