SWINTON LIONS 0 DONCASTER 56
IAN RIGG, Heywood Road, Sunday

JAMES GLOVER’S hat-trick of tries helped Doncaster complete a double over Swinton in a match which despite the scoreline, swung from end to end.

The Lions had some great chances but couldn’t take any of them, while the South Yorkshire side were clinical with theirs.

Bureta Faraimo put them in front after three minutes, crossing wide out, and Connor Robinson converted.

Five minutes later they were in again when Muizz Mustapha tore a hole in the defence for Glover to go in.

There was then a period of Swinton attack, but they couldn’t get through the Doncaster defence.

Gav Rodden made a break before losing the ball in a one-on-one tackle, then Watson Boas finished off a move to score with Robinson goaling.

Swinton lost playmaker Reece Briers on the half-hour with a leg injury, and he wasn’t to return.

There was plenty of Doncaster attacking going up to the break, and the home defence finally cracked when Luis Johnson crossed after a good movement. Robinson converted for 22-0.

Mustapha claimed a try of his own five minutes into the second half despite a brilliant break by Swinton fullback Louie Roberts of 80 metres before he ran out of support and the ball went loose. Robinson converted.

Swinton then lost Aaron Willis to a head issue and he didn’t reappear.

Glover scored his second following a Robinson kick and the provider added the two points. His third followed on 56 minutes and again the conversion was good.

Boas added his second on 67 after a good passing movement and Robinson converted from wide out.

Swinton’s Jordan Brown was held up on 70 minutes and a kick from Tom Ratchford was too strong at the next tackle.

With four minutes to go, Suaia Matagi scored a nice individual try when he dummied through to score under the posts and Robinson goaled.

Faraimo scored his second try with two minutes left after a break down the right and this time Robinson hit a post from the tee.

In the last play of the game, Isaac Misky was red carded for use of an elbow.

GAMESTAR: Doncaster forward Muzz Mustapha. Swinton could not handle his damaging runs.

GAMEBREAKER: Two tries by the visitors in the opening eight minutes set the platform for what was to come.

MATCHFACTS

LIONS
1 Louie Roberts
34 Patrick Ah Van
33 Dante Morley-Samuels
4 Aaron Lynch
3 Ellis Anderson
21 Tom Ratchford
6 Reece Briers
22 Jordan Brown
9 Josh Eaves
10 Ben Killan
11 Gav Rodden
12 Aaron Willis
17 Trent Kelly-Duffy
Subs (all used)
32 Kalum Rathbone
26 Charlie McCurrie
8 Samy Kibula
38 Mike Porter

DONCASTER
1 Tom Holmes
2 Bureta Faraimo
24 Watson Boas
22 James Glover
5 Luke Briscoe
6 Cory Aston
7 Connor Robinson
8 Brad Knowles
9 Greg Burns
10 Suaia Matagi
14 Jacob Jones
22 Luis Johnson
17 Muizz Mustapha
Subs (all used)
13 Loui McConnell
20 Issac Misky
11 Sam Smeaton
28 Tom Whitehead

Tries: Faraimo (3, 75), Glover (8, 52, 56), Boas (25, 67), Johnson (31), Mustapha (45), Matagi (76),
Goals: Robinson 8/10
Dismissal: Misky (80) – use of the elbow

SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-6, 0-10, 0-16, 0-22; 0-28, 0-34, 0-40, 0-46, 0-52, 0-56

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Lions: Trent Kelly-Duffy; Doncaster: Muizz Mustapha

Penalty count: 10-3
Half-time: 0-22
Referee: Scott Mikalauskas
Attendance: 667