DONCASTER 19 HALIFAX PANTHERS 12
DAN FOWLER, Eco-Power Stadium, Sunday

DONCASTER triumphed in a fierce and tight showdown on the back of brilliant performances from Muizz Mustapha and Brad Knowles in the pack as well as the creative nous of Cory Aston in the halves.

Halifax however will have room for optimism, especially with the exciting attacking play of Jesse Soric and David Nofoaluma, two real x-factor operators who should have fans on the edge of their seats.

Doncaster certainly won the territory battle in the opening quarter but didn’t have any points to show for it. 

Mustapha set out his stall from the off with a couple of eye-catching runs and the creativity of one-time Halifax man Aston, signed from Sheffield and installed as skipper, was clear to see as he forced a goal-line drop-out from a kick on ten minutes. 

To their credit, despite their lack of possession, Halifax didn’t shy away from their defensive duties and matched their powerful opponents in the pack with vigour. 

On 23 minutes, the deadlock was broken as Reece Lyne powered to the line and got himself the game’s opening score. It was an eight-point try in the end as the referee deemed he was fouled in the act of scoring, and Aston kicked both goals.

After receiving their first penalty of the game, Halifax got their first real taste of a proper attacking opportunity. They made the most of it as Ben Forster muscled in for a debut try, converted by Jack Hansen.

From the restart, Aston’s kick-off was allowed to bounce with Charlie Graham thinking it was going out on the full. Unfortunately for the winger, that wasn’t the case, and the subsequent set ended with Doncaster extending their advantage.

Greg Burns caught the Halifax defence unawares by going blindside on the last, with James Glover the try-scoring beneficiary in an ex-Sheffield combination. Aston couldn’t convert.

Halifax levelled matters in the final minute of the first period. Serbia internationals Soric and Nofoaluma linked and the latter sliced through the Doncaster defence with ease. Hansen goaled for 12-12.

Doncaster had to survive Halifax pressure in one of the opening sets of the second half. Alfie Johnson looked lively but was halted in his tracks by Lyne.

The hosts were soon at a numerical disadvantage following the sinbinning of Luke Briscoe for a late shot. 

This didn’t deter the hosts as during his absence, they hit the front and regained a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. 

Big carries from Pauli Pauli, Luis Johnson and Mustapha once again laid the platform and after Edene Gebbie extended a play with a timely offload, Connor Jones was in support to touch down. Aston converted. 

Doncaster were heavily behind on the penalty count for most of the afternoon but their defence did come to the fore as the game went on, keeping Halifax relatively quiet other than a few probing kicks from Hansen.

The final scoring act of the match was in true game-management fashion from Aston, nailing a field-goal off a post to put Doncaster two scores ahead.

GAMESTAR: Muizz Mustapha was a driving force in the pack for Doncaster.

GAMEBREAKER: Cory Aston’s field-goal 13 minutes from time gave Doncaster extra breathing space.

MATCHFACTS

DONCASTER
1 Tom Holmes
5 Luke Briscoe
4 Reece Lyne
23 James Glover
18 Edene Gebbie
24 Watson Boas
6 Cory Aston
8 Brad Knowles
9 Greg Burns
25 Gadwin Springer
14 Jacob Jones
11 Sam Smeaton
17 Muizz Mustapha
Subs (all used)
10 Suaia Matagi
16 Pauli Pauli
19 Connor Jones
22 Luis Johnson

Tries: Lyne (23), Glover (33), C Jones (46)
Goals: Aston 3/4
Field-goals: Aston (67)
Sin bin: Briscoe (42) – late tackle

PANTHERS
1 David Nofoaluma
2 Ben Tibbs
4 Alfie Johnson
3 Tanguy Zenon
5 Charlie Graham
6 Jesse Soric
7 Jack Hansen
8 Will Calcott
14 Tom Inman
23 Leon Cowen
11 Ben Crooks
19 Zack McComb
13 Jacob Fairbank
Subs (all used)
9 Adam O’Brien
10 Dan Okoro
18 Bayley Liu
21 Ben Forster

Tries: Forster (29), Nofoaluma (40)
Goals: Hansen 2/2

SCORING SEQUENCE: 8-0, 8-6, 12-6, 12-12; 18-12, 19-12

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Doncaster: Muizz Mustapha; Panthers: Dan Okoro

Penalty count: 1-6
Half-time: 12-12
Referee: Scott Mikalauskas
Attendance: 1,589