GOOLE VIKINGS 14 DONCASTER 36
CAM KIRK, Victoria Pleasure Grounds, Saturday

VETERAN Brett Ferres brought an end to his 22-year career with a try assist and a sin bin against one of his former sides as Goole closed out an impressive first Championship season with defeat to play-off bound Doncaster.

The Vikings’ captain was joined by Jack Aldous, Jack Coventry and Ben Dent in announcing their retirements, with the quartet receiving a guard of honour before kick off.

With Doncaster, who look serious contenders after having won eleven of their last twelve, already securing their spot in the play-offs, there was little riding on the game, but a spirited Vikings made it an enjoyable contest in their final match under coach Scott Taylor.

Having soaked up some early Goole pressure, the visitors opened the scoring with nine minutes played through the impressive Watson Boas, before Ferres was sent to the sin bin for a high shot on former teammate Luke Briscoe.

Going down to twelve didn’t deter the hosts, who spent back-to-back sets camped on the Doncaster line, but they could not make the pressure count.

Instead, the visitors crossed again shortly after, racing up the field in a flowing move that resulted in Cory Aston crossing under the sticks before adding the conversion himself for a 12-0 half-time lead.

Goole started the second half brightly, working the ball left for Ferres, whose delayed pass to fellow ex-Don Tom Halliday was inch perfect, but the winger was denied by referee Carl Hughes.

Oliver Morgan was sent to the bin for dissent as a result, a decision that proved a crucial turning point in the visitors’ favour.

Doncaster made their numerical advantage count with two quick-fire tries from Jacob Jones and the hard-working Brad Knowles, to open up a 22-point lead that looked to have taken the game away from their hosts.

But back came the Vikings as an entertaining second half continued to swing both ways.

Jack Miller and Keenen Tomlinson combined at the line to offload into Josh Guzdek, who stretched out to bring Goole onto the board, before Edene Gebbie showed his class with a length-of-the-field try to restore Doncaster’s healthy lead.

The Vikings hit straight back, working the ball left to Ferres, who fired a sensational pass into Halliday, who would not be denied a second time, only for Bureta Faraimo to add his name to the scoresheet as the sides continued to exchange tries.

However, despite facing defeat, the home side finished with a final flourish to close out what has been a promising campaign.

Tomlinson intercepted, racing 50 metres up the field, before some quick-thinking from Morgan sent Callum Rutland reaching over to give the home crowd something to celebrate.

GAMESTAR: Edene Gebbie was involved in everything good for Doncaster, with his work with the ball just too good for the Vikings.

GAMEBREAKER: It could have been a different second half had Tom Halliday’s try not been ruled out in controversial fashion just after half-time.

MATCHFACTS

VIKINGS
1 Josh Guzdek
2 Tom Halliday
3 Cooper Howlett
4 Keenen Tomlinson
5 Callum Shaw
22 Callum Rutland
7 Jack Miller
50 Owen Haldenby
51 Morgan Punchard
30 Liam Watts
11 Brett Ferres
9 Jeylan Hodgson
13 Harry Aldous
Subs (all used)
8 Tyler Craig
14 Oliver Morgan
17 Jack Coventry
40 Tyler Walton

Tries: Guzdek (60), Halliday (67), Rutland (74)
Goals: Miller 1/3
Sin bin: Ferres (22) – high tackle, Morgan (45) – dissent

DONCASTER
18 Edene Gebbie
5 Luke Briscoe
3 Brad Hey
23 James Glover
2 Bureta Faraimo
24 Watson Boas
6 Cory Aston
8 Brad Knowles
20 Isaac Misky
10 Suaia Matagi
11 Sam Smeaton
22 Luis Johnson
14 Jacob Jones
Subs (all used)
13 Loui McConnell
15 Jordan Baldwinson
19 Connor Jones
29 Tom Whitehead

Tries: Boas (9), Aston (28), J Jones (49), Knowles (53), Gebbie (65), Faraimo (71)
Goals: Aston 6/6

SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-6, 0-12; 0-18, 0-24, 6-24, 6-30, 10-30, 10-36, 14-36

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Vikings: Brett Ferres; Doncaster: Edene Gebbie

Half-time: 0-12
Referee: Carl Hughes
Attendance: 1,083