REPORT: Doncaster 21-18 Barrow Raiders

[Dons News]

Doncaster RLFC 21–18 Barrow Raiders.

Keepmoat Stadium.

Kingstone Press League 1

 

Dons: Carr, Sheriff, L. Welham, Tali, Doherty, Howden, B. Delaney, Castle, Kesik, Aizue, Tonks, Foster, M. Nicholson. Interchange: J. Delaney, Braham, B. Nicholson, Scott.

Raiders: Fieldhouse, S. Toal, Hankinson, Wiper, Haney, Dallimore, Ward, Bullock, Ashall, Wilkes, Litherland, Morrow, Aspinwall. Interchange: Abram, D. Toal, Duerden, Bate.

 

12-man Doncaster paid the perfect tribute to Liam Maughan in the Rifleman’s Memorial Game at the Keepmoat Stadium as they fought hard to beat Barrow 21-12 to secure a fourth win of the season.

Barrow almost took the lead early on when after a strong bit of pressure.  A clever kick through almost fell invitingly for winger Shane Toal, however he could only ground the ball over the dead ball line.

Doncaster immediately made the most of the missed chance and took the lead themselves, strong prop forward Mark Castle powering over from close range for his second try of the League 1 season. Tom Carr added the two to give Doncaster a six point advantage.

The Dons were landed a big blow with a quarter of the game gone, prop Connor Scott was sent off for an alleged strike in the tackle on Barrow’s Jamie Dallimore, causing a mass brawl between both sets of players which the referee did well to deal with.

The Raiders took control after the red card and eventually levelled proceedings.  Centre Chris Hankinson cut inside and dived over in fine style, before Josh Ward converted.

Both sides posed a threat going forward before right on the stroke of half time, Barrow were given a penalty for a swinging arm. Scrum-half Ward went for goal but missed the kick ensuring the scores stayed level at the break.

Half Time: Doncaster 6-6 Barrow.

The home side regained the lead almost instantly after the re-start, an early penalty gave them great field position before powerful centre Jason Tali bundled his way over on the left hand side. Carr was again successful with the boot.

Tali got his second try when a high bomb from Jordan Howden left the Barrow defence all over the place and the Papa New Guinea star managed to get to the ball first to go over and Carr slotted the conversion.

Doncaster were awarded a penalty just moments after Tali’s try and Carr extended the lead to 20-6, successfully converting the penalty.

Barrow pulled a try back after almost an hour, a flowing move from the Raiders eventually saw the ball shipped out to the right wing where Lee Haney was in just enough space to be able to squeeze over the try line. Ward kicked the conversion.

A drop goal from Tom Carr then increased the lead to nine points with less than 10 minutes remaining.

Another Barrow try with moments left on the clock set up a nervous finale for the Dons, Anthony Bate went over close to the sticks and the conversion made it a three point ball game.

Gary Thornton’s side managed to hold out for the win to give them back to back wins at home and ended Barrow’s unbeaten run in the division.

Full time score: Doncaster 21-18 Barrow Raiders

 

Dons tries: Castle, Tali x2

Goals: Carr x 4

Drop goals: Carr

Raiders tries: Hankinson, Haney

Goals: Ward x2

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