PREVIEW: Barrow Raiders v Doncaster

[Dons News]

Doncaster Rugby League travel north to Craven Park to take on Barrow Raiders on Sunday (3:30pm), looking to secure a place in the League 1 play-off final. 

Rochdale Hornets secured victory over Toulouse Olympique XIII last weekend to win promotion to the Championship, meaning Toulouse, York City Knights, Barrow and the Dons are all vying for the final promotion spot.

Toulouse play fifth placed York, whilst Barrow who finished third play the Dons who finished fourth in the play-off semi-finals, with the two winners progressing to the final.

Barrow who have home advantage in the tie, finished just three points above the Dons at the end of the campaign, having won 15 of their 21 matches in League 1, just one more than Gary Thornton's side.

Thornton will again be forced into changes for the trip after Joe Pickets-O'Donnell picked up a two match suspension from the RFL.

Liam Welham, Mike Kelly, Mason Tonks and Matt Nicholson are all sidelined with long term injuries and will miss the Dons play-off campaign.

Doncaster were however boosted in the last week of the season with the return of Zac Braham, Makali Aizue and Jason Tali who all featured last time out against London Skolars and came through that match unscathed.

Iafeta Paleaaesina on dual registration from Hull FC was not made available for our match against London and the Dons could once again face the same fate this weekend.

Wingers Louis Sheriff and David Foggin-Johnston will be looking to keep up their fine try scoring form of late, they have both scored five tries in their last six matches.

The Dons come into the match on the back of two victories in a row in League 1 over York and London respectively.

Barrow had been on a fine run, winning nine matches on the spin, however that was ended against Toulouse last time out.

The last time the two sides met was back in July, when a depleted Dons side without the likes of Jordan Howden and Jordie Hedges went down 40-12 at the Keepmoat Stadium.

Doncaster did get the better of the Raiders back in April though, Connor Scott saw red early on, but the Dons produced a superb performance with 12 men to secure a 21-18 victory.

Barrow will however be looking to get revenge on the Dons from 2012.  The Dons beat Barrow 16-13 in the 2012 Grand Final at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, the last time the two sides met in a play-off game.

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[Christoff1986]

Hi guys

 

Please have a read of my latest blog which I've just posted.  This one's about the League 1 Play-off Semi Finals...

 

http://cdpark86.blog...gue-1-semi.html

 

Hope you enjoy

 

Chris.