DONCASTER 44 MIDLANDS HURRICANES 16
STEVE HOSSACK, Club Doncaster Sports Village, Sunday

DONCASTER strengthened their grip on fourth spot in avenging an early-season 26-24 defeat at Avery Fields.

Having won five of their previous six games – only leaders London got the better of them – Midlands will not have lacked confidence on their arrival at a ground where they claimed a remarkable 41-10 League One victory on their last visit back in 2023.

But it was never going to be an easy task against a Doncaster side who had won eight of their last nine.

The hosts showed a number of changes to the team who claimed a last-gasp midweek victory at Barrow while the visitors were without stand-off Sully Medforth.

Doncaster took the lead on six minutes. Good work by scrum-half Connor Robinson put hooker Connor Jones into space inside the Hurricanes 20 and he dotted down for his sixth try in the last three games.

Robinson, whose late long-range penalty-goal had secured success at Barrow, tagged on the extras.

Midlands, who had tested the Doncaster defence after electing to run a penalty, fell further behind on twelve minutes when Robinson, who again added the extras, dummied his way over from close range.

The Birmingham side continued to look tidy with ball in hand but they lacked the creativity to crack open the Doncaster defence when near the line, and Robinson opened up a 14-0 lead when converting a straightforward penalty-goal.

Midlands eventually opened their account on 29 minutes. Doncaster were slow to react to a teasing kick over the line by scrum-half Lewis Else and were punished when winger Matty Chrimes dived on the loose ball. It was his 18th try of the season – a new club record.

Doncaster wasted a great chance after fullback Edene Gebbie and Robinson had linked up in style. What could, with the conversion, have been 20-4 became 14-10 as Midlands hit back with a try by centre Ross Oakes, goaled by Chrimes.

Centre Reece Lyne helped secure his side a more representative 20-10 lead when powering his way past several defenders to score near enough for Robinson to convert just before the interval.

Replacement forward Jacob Jones crashed over from close range, following good work by Luis Johnson and Connor Jones in the build-up, for a 43rd-minute converted try to open up a 16-point lead.

It took some impressive cover defence to deny Harvey Horne, who had been outstanding in the first half, but there was no stopping prop Muizz Mustapha powering his way over from close range to help make it 32-10.

Midlands continued to work hard in defence only to fall further behind on 58 minutes when the impressive Connor Jones made the running for veteran Sam Smeaton’s converted try.

Mark Dunning’s men, who impressed Doncaster coach Richard Horne, had a 67th-minute touchdown by Chrimes chalked off for a forward pass.

Winger Luke Briscoe strolled over for Doncaster’s seventh try, again improved, following some sweet handling.

But Midlands had the last word as Tyler Dickinson touched down from a clever kick by Chrimes, who converted.

GAMESTAR: Doncaster’s Australian hooker Connor Jones produced another impressive display.

GAMEBREAKER: Jacob Jones’ try just after half-time added to the hosts’ ten-point interval lead.

MATCHFACTS

DONCASTER
18 Edene Gebbie
5 Luke Briscoe
4 Reece Lyne
30 Harvey Horne
2 Bureta Faraimo
29 Tom Whitehead
7 Connor Robinson
17 Muizz Mustapha
19 Connor Jones
10 Suaia Matagi
11 Sam Smeaton
22 Luis Johnson
13 Loui McConnell
Subs (all used)
12 Alex Sutcliffe
14 Jacob Jones
21 Tyla Hepi
24 Watson Boas

Tries: C Jones (6), Robinson (13), Lyne (39), J Jones (43), Mustapha (51), Smeaton (58), Briscoe (75)
Goals: Robinson 8/8

HURRICANES
1 Todd Horner
2 Matty Chrimes
5 Luis Roberts
4 Ross Oakes
23 Aidan McGowan
25 Ethan Newboult
7 Lewis Else
8 Jon Luke Kirby
9 Aiden Roden
10 Tyler Dickinson
20 Toby Warren
12 Oliver Roberts
15 Elliot Morris
Subs (all used)
17 Kieran Moran
19 Chris Cullimore
22 Cian Tyrer
28 Isaac Shaw

Tries: Chrimes (29), Oakes (36), Dickinson (80)
Goals: Chrimes 2/3

SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 12-0, 14-0, 14-4, 14-10, 20-10; 26-10, 32-10, 38-10, 44-10, 44-16

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Doncaster: Connor Jones; Hurricanes: Tyler Dickinson

Penalty count: 8-5
Half-time: 20-10
Referee: Scott Mikalauskas
Attendance: 1,533