Doncaster’s Connor Robinson comes back to haunt Halifax Panthers

HALIFAX PANTHERS 6 DONCASTER 30
ROB WALLACE, The Shay, Sunday

CONNOR ROBINSON came back to haunt Halifax as Doncaster secured a vital two points at The Shay.

Robinson was perfect with the boot, kicking seven goals and adding a solo try to register 18 points.

Doncaster’s win was built on their outstanding defence as the Panthers attempted to break them down repeatedly only to be foiled by the visitors time and time again.

Halifax coach Kyle Eastmond rang the changes following their defeat in Toulouse last week, with Owen Restall, Jack Hansen, Will Calcott and Ronan Dixon all coming into the starting line-up and Jacob Fairbank making his 300th appearance for the Panthers from the bench. Doncaster coach Richard Horne made only one change to his starting thirteen with Watson Boas coming in for Jack Charles at stand-off following a narrow 26-30 defeat to Oldham.

Doncaster took the lead in the 8th minute, Edene Gebbie collecting Hansen’s kick, dummying inside and racing down the wing to half-way. Gebbie traded passes with the supporting Craig Hall and the PNG winger raced over to the left of the posts to score. Robinson added the conversion.

Panthers captain Adam O’Brien levelled the score for the home side on the quarter hour, picking up and scooting away from acting half and diving over under the posts from short range. Louis Jouffret added the conversion to bring the score to 6-6.

James Woodburn-Hall went close to giving the Panthers the lead with 25 minutes gone, stepping and darting for the line, but a good tackle from Hall prevented the Halifax stand-off from scoring. Doncaster regained the lead with 10 minutes remaining in the first half with a Robinson penalty.

Jouffret missed a chance to level the scores as the half time hooter sounded, his penalty attempt from half-way just fading across the posts as the teams ended an error strewn first half.

Robinson further extended the Doncaster lead with another penalty from in front of the posts 11 minutes into the second half following excellent work by the impressive Gebbie.

Robinson was again the points scorer just after the hour mark. A Calcott error gifted field position for the visitors and it was the former Halifax half who took the ball to the line and dummied his way through the Panthers defensive line to race over and score, adding the conversion to give Doncaster a ten-point advantage.

It was the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back as Doncaster extended their lead further eight minutes later. Slick passing saw the ball sent from left to right and the impressive Reece Lyne sent Luke Briscoe over acrobatically in the right corner. Robinson added the conversion from the touchline to take the score to 6-22.

Another Robinson penalty gave the visitors an eighteen-point lead before Doncaster’s PNG connection provided the try of the game, the ever-impressive Gebbie picking up a loose ball and racing 70 metres before offloading to the supporting Watson Boas who touched down in the right corner. Robinson added the touchline conversion to take the final score to 6-30.

GAMESTAR: Connor Robinson was outstanding as he returned to the Shay to score a try and seven goals to haunt his former side.

GAMEBREAKER: Connor Robinson’s try on the hour mark gave Doncaster a ten-point lead that they would not surrender.

MATCHFACTS
PANTHERS
1 Louis Jouffret
2 Ben Tibbs
3 Charlie Graham
20 Brad Graham
18 Owen Restall
6 James Woodburn-Hall
7 Jack Hansen
17 Will Calcott
9 Adam O’Brien
16 Ronan Dixon
11 Owen McCarron
12 Adam Tangata
33 Tom Whitehead
Subs (all used)
14 Tom Inman
13 Jacob Fairbank
15 Connor Davies
19 Zack McComb

Tries: O’Brien (15)
Goals: Jouffret 1/2

DONCASTER
1 Craig Hall
5 Luke Briscoe
4 Reece Lyne
3 Brad Hey
18 Edene Gebbie
24 Watson Boas
7 Connor Robinson
8 Brad Knowles
9 Greg Burns
10 Suaia Matagi
14 Jacob Jones
11 Sam Smeaton
13 Loui McConnell
Subs (all used)
21 Tyla Hepi
28 Matty Laidlaw
20 Isaac Misky
26 Will Gardiner