REPORT | Midlands 4 Dons 40

Doncaster's 2024 AB Sundecks 1895 campaign began with a 4-40 victory away at Midlands Hurricanes.

The Dons notched up a win in their first group game of the AB Sundecks 1895 Cup as they travelled to Midlands Hurricanes to collect the victory, before hosting Sheffield Eagles at the Eco-Power Stadium next week. 

The game started with plenty of back and forth in the opening 10 with both sides cancelling the other out. 

It took until the 20th minute for the hosts to cause a real scare after an error gifted them the opportunity to break, Jason Bass sprinting from deep in his own half only to pull up as he reached the halfway line inevitably being caught by the Dons trailing pack.   

As the game approached the half hour mark it was the visitors that started to up the pace, giving Midlands few opportunities to get out of their own half. 

There were a few glimpses that points were there to be taken should one of the swift left to right plays end with a touch of quality, but the game was still tied at nil with only 10 minutes left of the first period. 

Doncaster RLFC finally made the breakthrough in the 33rd minute after a quick paced move that looked to be going from left to right across the pitch switched back to the left hand side and Tom Halliday found himself in acres of space to touch down in the corner. 

Connor Robinson was unable to convert at the first attempt of the day. 

The flood gates appeared to have been opened as only moments later the Dons were in again. A prolonged period of play in the Midlands half resulted in Robinson dancing his way through to put the ball down, followed by picking up the extra two himself. 

Doncaster took a 0-10 lead into the break. After a tight opening half an hour the Dons stepped it up a gear and found the end product that had been missing with two finishes in quick succession.  

It was a much quicker start to the second period and it didn’t take the visitors long to strike again. Having to play some solid defensive moments after an error to keep out the hosts the Dons broke forward with Alex Holdstock skipping through the line with quick feet to hand off to Jose Kenga to put down and increase the South Yorkshire side’s lead. 

Robinson’s kick being a good one. 

Midlands weren’t yet defeated and managed to put together a period of sustained pressure but the Dons defensive line held firm. Turning defence to attack Doncaster broke again up the field through Reece Lyne resulting in a sweeping move from right to left and again Halliday was on hand to apply the finish in the corner. 

Just before the hour mark the Betfred Championship side started to go through the gears with Pauli Pauli receiving the ball inside 15 metres and that is going to take some stopping this season, powering through and over to further increase Doncaster’s lead. Robinson adding the extras making it 0-28. 

Pauli followed up his try with a late tackle punished by the referee with a yellow and 10 minutes on the sidelines. 

With 10 minutes to go and the visitors a man lighter, the Betfred League One side ceased the opportunity to put some points on the board, Max Kirkbright going over but David Hewitt unable to maximise the points on offer. 

Five minutes remained and Suaia Matagi showed what he does, breaking through the middle from half way handing off to Ben Johnston to go over the line. 

Robinson added another two. 

Both the Dons and Halliday weren’t done there, with the winger bursting down he left wing leaving everyone else behind him completing his hat-trick in the 80th minute, leaving it to Robinson to end the scoring at 4-40. 

Doncaster RLFC host Sheffield Eagles next Sunday, February 4, 3pm in the next group fixture of the AB Sundecks 1895 Cup. 

Don’t miss out on your chance to see the Dons in their first competitive fixture of the 2024 campaign at the Eco-Power Stadium, purchase your tickets HERE.