HALIFAX PANTHERS 12 DONCASTER 50
EMMA KENNEDY, The Shay, Sunday

DONCASTER returned to action in style to earn their tenth win of the season at Halifax.

There were eight different scorers for the visitors, who were good value for their victory against a stubborn Panthers side that had posed plenty of questions, especially in the first half.

Halifax were without loanees Myles Lawford and Lukas Mason, who shone during last week’s rout of North Wales, forcing a reshuffle.

Vila Halafihi moved from loose forward to partner Jesse Soric in the halves, whilst Lloyd Roby came in at fullback, Alfie Johnson at centre and Will Calcott into the second row.

Doncaster handed a debut to Castleford loanee Jack Ashworth from the interchanges, whilst Cory Aston made his 250th career appearance.

Doncaster initially showed the effects of not having played since the beginning of the month, but soon began to find their rhythm.

A strong chase forced a drop-out, but a forward pass halted their momentum in what became the theme of a stop-start opening half as both sides conceded possession cheaply.

The deadlock was broken just before the quarter-hour after Aston somehow managed to offload in the tackle, the ball bouncing into the path of Watson Boas, who crashed into the right corner.

Triumph though soon turned to despair, with Halifax nudging in front just three minutes later after Doncaster had conceded a drop-out from the restart.

Alfie Johnson rose highest to beat Bureta Faraimo to Jesse Soric’s chip to the left corner before grounding the ball, Darius Carter’s conversion giving the hosts the lead.

The impressive Ben Crooks then broke through the defensive line as Halifax looked to go back-to-back, but a poor end to the set saw the chance go begging.

Instead, Doncaster put their foot on the gas, scoring two tries in three minutes.

First, Greg Burns darted out of dummy-half after Luis Johnson had gone close, with Faraimo then adding his name to the scoresheet with a carbon copy try, Connor Robinson converting both from wide as his side opened up a 10-point lead.

Despite falling behind, Halifax continued to ask questions of the visitors’ defence, with Jacob Fairbank coming close from a scrum on the half-hour.

But it was Doncaster who extended their lead thanks to a fine solo effort from Robinson, the halfback weaving his way through from halfway before rounding Lloyd Roby and adding the resultant conversion, giving the Dons a 22-6 half-time lead.

The visitors looked to pick up where they left off in the second half when a knock-on handed them an early scrum within striking distance, but Halifax’s tryline defence stood firm.

However, it wasn’t long until another quick burst saw them post more points.

Boas completed his brace on 45 minutes after slotting through a gap on the right, James Glover then showing great speed and footwork as he weaved his way over next to the posts, Robinson converting both.

Despite the game slipping further out of their reach, Halifax refused to lie down. After Fairbank had been held up, Soric ran onto his own grubber next to the posts, Carter reducing the deficit to 32-12.

Doncaster saw two efforts chalked off by referee Denton Arnold before scoring their seventh try with 11 minutes remaining, Johnson holding off two defenders as he twisted his way across from close range.

Edene Gebbie, having moved to fullback, then got in on the act amid a neat passing move after joining the line on the right before Loui McConnell wrapped up the scoring in the final minute next to the posts, Faraimo’s conversion bringing up the half-century.

GAMESTAR: Connor Robinson was at the heart of his side’s play, scoring and adding six conversions.

GAMEBREAKER: Doncaster’s quick burst of tries in the first half gave them wind in their sails in what had been a competitive first half.

MATCHFACTS

PANTHERS
5 Lloyd Roby
2 Ben Tibbs
4 Alfie Johnson
22 Darius Carter
3 Ben Will
6 Jesse Soric
20 Vila Halafihi
33 Delaine Gittens-Bedward
9 Adam O’Brien
21 Ben Forster
11 Ben Crooks
8 Will Calcott
15 Connor Davies
Subs (all used)
7 Curtis Davies
13 Jacob Fairbank
23 Leon Cowen
24 Jimmy Morgan

Tries: Johnson (16), Soric (56)
Goals: Carter 2/2

DONCASTER
1 Tom Holmes
2 Bureta Faraimo
24 Watson Boas
23 James Glover
18 Edene Gebbie
6 Cory Aston
7 Connor Robinson
8 Brad Knowles
9 Greg Burns
17 Muizz Mustapha
12 Alex Sutcliffe
22 Luis Johnson
14 Jacob Jones
Subs (all used)
10 Suaia Matagi
13 Loui McConnell
21 Tyla Hepi
29 Jack Ashworth

Tries: Boas (13, 45), Burns (25), Faraimo (28), Robinson (33), Glover (53), Johnson (69), Gebbie (72), McConnell (80)
Goals: Robinson 6/8, Faraimo 1/1

SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-4, 6-4, 6-10, 6-16, 6-22; 6-26, 6-32, 12-32, 12-38, 12-44, 12-50

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Panthers: Jesse Soric; Doncaster: Connor Robinson

Penalty count: 8-3
Half-time: 6-22
Referee: Denton Arnold
Attendance: 1,603