TWO hugely ambitious clubs will meet on Sunday afternoon at the Keepmoat Stadium (kick-off 3.00pm) when the Vikings visit Doncaster for a clash between the teams currently in fourth and second place in the Championship, with both teams only having lost one league game.
Both teams come to this game after having had a blank weekend, with the Dons having beaten Goole Vikings 32016 in Round 6 and Widnes having beaten Hunslet 32-26 in a clash that was tougher than they might have expected.
Doncaster coach Richard Horne (pictured above) brings back Reece Lyne, Sam Smeaton and Jacob Jones back into his squad, with Brad Hey (shoulder), Luke Briscoe and Gadwin Springer making way, with Springer loaned to Hunslet for one week.
Widnes coach Allan Coleman makes one change to his squad. With Jack Bibby having departed to Salford, he brings Sam Wilde back into his squad after his recovery from an ankle injury suffered in early February against North Wales Crusaders.
SQUADS
Doncaster: 1 Tom Holmes, 4 Reece Lyne, 6 Cory Aston, 7 Connor Robinson, 8 Bradley Knowles, 9 Greg Burns, 10 Suaia Matagi, 11 Sam Smeaton, 12 Alex Sutcliffe, 13 Loui McConnell, 14 Jacob Jones, 15 Jordan Baldwinson, 17 Muizz Mustapha, 18 Edene Gebbie, 19 Connor Jones, 21 Tyla Hepi, 22 Luis Johnson, 23 James Glover, 24 Watson Boas, 26 Mitieli Vulikijapani, 27 Titus Gwaze
Outs: 3 Brad Hey, 5 Luke Briscoe, 25 Gadwin Springer,
Ins: 4 Reece Lyne, 11 Sam Smeaton, 14 Jacob Jones,
Vikings: 1 Matty Fleming, 2 Mike Butt, 3 Jack Owens, 5 Ryan Ince, 6 Joe Lyons, 7 Tom Gilmore, 8 Daniel Murray, 9 Jordan Johnstone, 11 Sam Wilde, 12 Max Roberts, 13 Nick Gregson, 14 Matty Fozard, 15 Lewis Hall, 16 Danny Langtree, 18 Morgan McWhirter, 19 Adam Lawton, 21 James Chapelhow, 22 Jordan Abdull, 23 Nathan Connell, 28 Jack Houghton, 29 Jumah Sambou
Outs: 20 Jack Bibby,
Ins: 11 Sam Wilde,
Referee: James Vella
STATS
Last ten meetings:
Widnes 16, Doncaster 20 (ChR18, 20/7/25)
Doncaster 22, Widnes 26 (ChR4, 23/3/25)
Doncaster 30, Widnes 14 (ChR24, 15/9/24)
Widnes 16, Doncaster 14 (ChR7, 5/5/24)
Widnes 50, Doncaster 16 (CCR3, 11/2/24)
Widnes 42, Doncaster 28 (CCR4, 19/4/13)
Widnes 78, Doncaster 4 (ChR15, 4/7/09)
Doncaster 18, Widnes 24 (ChR5, 13/4/09)
Doncaster 12, Widnes 38 (CCR4, 20/4/08)
Widnes 40, Doncaster 18 (NL1R13, 29/7/07)
WATSON BOAS needs one appearance to reach 100 for Doncaster.
– Debut: North Wales Crusaders (h) (L1) (L12-10) (Fullback) (28 April, 2019)
JORDAN JOHNSTONE needs one appearance to reach 200 for his career.
– 130 for Widnes Vikings (2016-2019, 2023-2026)
– 8 for Castleford Tigers (2023, loan)
– 56 for Hull FC (2020-2022)
- 3 for London Broncos (2018, loan)
– 2 for Whitehaven (2015, dual-registration)