LONDON BRONCOS 42 DONCASTER 6
HUW RICHARDS, Cherry Red Records Stadium, Sunday
LONDON moved to within a victory of the Grand Final, chalking up their fourth defeat of Doncaster on four different grounds this season.
The capital side also completed a weekend double following footballing groundshare partners AFC Wimbledon’s 1-0 home win over Doncaster Rovers on Saturday.
To call the Broncos’ triumph routine would be unfair to Doncaster, who for the best part of an hour presented the hosts with something they could have done with more of this season – genuine opposition.
The visitors went in at half-time trailing only 14-6 and with a hint of momentum from Watson Boas’ well-worked try and Connor Robinson’s wide-angled on-the-hooter conversion, extending his record run of successful kicks to 53.
The difference between the teams in a tightly-contested first half was the additional cutting edge given to the Broncos by the two players who are battling to lead their try-scoring list.
It took them 18 minutes to find a way to the line, with Neil Tchamambe diving over in the right-hand corner for his 35th try of the season, moving level with Gairo Voro.
Voro reclaimed his lead nine minutes later, a characteristic shuffle and change of direction opening space to cross near the posts and leave Dean Hawkins a simple conversion for 10-0.
When Voro’s speed of movement and pass from a scrum near the Doncaster line sent Tchamambe over on the right, levelling the try-scoring race at 36, it looked as if the Broncos might pull away.
Instead it wasn’t to be until the 55th minute – an unusually-long scoreless spell for the Broncos – that they crossed again, a period on either side of half-time punctuated by that Boas score.
Connor O’Beirne stretched to get his team back on the scoresheet, then Voro picked up a loose ball, drove out to the left and sent Robert Mathias weaving to the line, Hawkins improving both for 26-6.
This was followed by two of the best tries seen at Wimbledon.
Luke Smith sealed a boast of scoring in all four games against Doncaster, six tries in total, with a stunning solo effort begun by beating three tacklers in his own half, Hawkins again adding the two.
The Voro regained the outright lead in his private battle with Tchamambe, feints and shuffles bamboozling would-be tacklers as he dashed to the left corner.
That there was only one further score, O’Beirne sending Epel Kapinias over for Hawkins to land his fifth conversion from eight attempts, reflected further credit on Doncaster’s spirit and commitment.
GAMESTAR: Gairo Voro, as ever supplying the x factor of diversion and deception amid the Broncos’ powerful straight runners.
GAMEBREAKER: London’s deluge of four tries in ten minutes midway through the second half.
MATCHFACTS
BRONCOS
22 Alex Walker
26 Neil Tchamambe
20 Brandon Webster-Mansfield
3 Robert Mathias
2 Elliot Wallis
23 Gairo Voro
7 Dean Hawkins
8 Reagan Campbell-Gillard
13 Siliva Havili
16 Epel Kapinias
11 Luke Smith
12 Jack Croft
15 Sadiq Adebiyi
Subs (all used)
6 Connor O’Beirne
10 Emarly Bitungane
14 Finley Glare
24 Lewis Bienek
Tries: Tchamambe (18, 31), Voro (27, 65), O’Beirne (55), Mathias (58), Smith (61), Kapinias (74)
Goals: Hawkins 5/8
DONCASTER
1 Tom Holmes
2 Bureta Faraimo
4 Reece Lyne
24 Watson Boas
18 Edene Gebbie
6 Cory Aston
7 Connor Robinson
8 Brad Knowles
19 Connor Jones
10 Suaia Matagi
12 Alex Sutcliffe
22 Luis Johnson
14 Jacob Jones
Subs (all used)
17 Muizz Mustapha
20 Isaac Misky
21 Tyla Hepi
31 Tom Whitehead
Tries: Boas (39)
Goals: Robinson 1/1
Sin bin: Holmes (77) – high tackle
SCORING SEQUENCE: 4-0, 10-0, 14-0, 14-6; 20-6, 26-6, 32-6, 36-6, 42-6
Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Broncos: Gairo Voro; Doncaster: Cory Aston
Penalty count: 6-4
Half-time: 14-6
Referee: James Vella