10 Apr 2022
REPORT | Doncaster RLFC 22 Swinton Lions 64
The Dons endured a difficult afternoon as they fell to a 64-22 defeat to Swinton Lions, who maintained their 100 per cent winning start to the season.
Halting an impressive Swinton side that have surged out of the blocks in this campaign was always likely to be a tough task. And it became no easier with the Dons playing more than three quarters of the game with 12 men following the sending off of Ben Johnston.
The Lions repeatedly made the numbers advantage count, ensuring that any threat of a Dons comeback was snuffed out quickly.
Dons head coach Richard Horne handed a debut to forward Ben Mathiou, who joined on loan from Featherstone Rovers during the week. Bentley ARLFC product Jordan Seaman was named among the substitutes on his debut outing.
The Lions made a strong start after receiving the kick. And after being held up, they moved the ball out wide from ten metres with Jayden Hatton spotting the gap in the corner to go over with just two minutes on the clock. Daniel Abram slotted over the first of ten successful conversions.
Before the Dons could recover, they found themselves further behind. After a series of powerful drives forward, Swinton moved the ball out wide with pace for Max Roberts to score on six minutes.
Horne’s side got off the mark three minutes later. Johnston sent a superbly-weighted kick through into the corner which Tom Halliday raced in to collect and score.
Swinton demonstrated plenty of pace and power in a long period of control of the ball. And they capped it on 16 minutes when Louis Brogan went over.
It was in the aftermath that Johnston was shown a red card for dissent towards the match official.
And the Lions did not wait long to make the advantage tell, with Roberts racing over out wide for a second try on 23 minutes after more swift passing play.
The response from the Dons was good however, and they narrowed the gap on 27 minutes after great work in the build-up. Jason Tali powered his way through on the left with Connor Robinson making the conversion.
But slowing Swinton was proving difficult and they moved onto the 30 point mark on 34 minutes. A kick through took a fortuitous bounce and the ball was quickly switched to Matthew Wilkinson who had a clear path to the line.
And the visitors added a sixth try before the break when they made the numbers game count out wide to give Hatton the space to score his second. Abram’s conversion bounced out off the crossbar, ensuring Swinton’s advantage was 24 points at half time.
They increased it eight minutes into the second half when Jack Hansen raced in after a great display of handling.
The Dons hit back three minutes later as Tali grabbed his second try with incisive running. Robinson converted.
Nicholas Gregson powered through several attempted tackles to score under the posts for the Lions just after the hour.
And the visitors added two more in the next seven minutes to reach the ten try tally.
Both tries saw them ruthlessly exploit the numbers advantage in the wide areas, leaving Rhodri Lloyd and Richard Lepori with gaps to run into.
The Dons pulled another try back ten minutes from time. The ball was moved out wide with pace for Robbie Storey to go over, with Robinson converting.
But the last say went to Swinton, with Hanson showing good footwork to jink through and score.
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