DONCASTER coach Richard Horne was pleased to snap a losing sequence with a recent 44-16 win at Salford – but pointed out it was far from the perfect performance.
As well as the two-point haul following three league losses and one in the 1895 Cup quarter-finals, positives included a stand-out showing from Mitieli Vulikijapani, a pleasing return – and a hat-trick of tries – from another former Hull FC winger Bureta Faraimo and a double by Alex Sutcliffe.
However Horne, who has to wait until Sunday, June 28 for another match (Doncaster head to Halifax), remains concerned at his side’s habit of straying from the game plan – and said that on another day, they could have paid a high price.
“I was happy to get back to winning ways, but it was a bit of a mixed display,” he said.
“We’ve probably been lacking a little bit of confidence, and it was good to score some tries, but there were periods where we went away from the plan and didn’t get those final-tackle plays away as we wanted, and that meant we put ourselves under more pressure than needed to.”
Fijian Vulikijapani caught the eye of Horne, who explained: “He carried strongly, generated some ruck speed and took his try well.”
New Zealand-born USA international Faraimo has been working his way back after a knee injury last year and had last played in mid-April.
“It was great to have Bureta back out there,” added Horne, who currently has prolific Papuan try-scorer Edene Gebbie sidelined.
“He looked fresh, fit and a handful with the ball, and he can dig into training over the next few weeks with enthusiasm.
“Alex was able to gets his hands on the ball, and he looked sharp as well.”