REPORT | Widnes Vikings 50 Dons 16

Doncaster RLFC exited the Betfred Challenge Cup on Sunday afternoon, going down 50-16 to Widnes Vikings at the DCBL Stadium.

Coach Richard Horne made six changes from the side defeated by Sheffield Eagles seven days ago. Misi Taulapapa, Reece Lyne, Craig Hall, Greg Burns, Ilikaya Mafi and Jude Thompson replaced Jason Tali, Luke Briscoe, Ben Johnston, Alex Holdstock, Brett Ferres, and Pauli Pauli in the matchday seventeen.  

It was a perfect start for Horne's men. After a penalty was given for a tip on Greg Burns, Joe Lovodua broke through Widnes' defence with ease, showing quality near the line to dive under the sticks. Connor Robinson converted the try, giving the Dons a 6-0 lead in the opening minutes of the contest. 

After the dramatic start, the arm wrestle began. Dons had their chances, Alex Sutcliffe coming close to scoring from a neat Robinson pass. However, it was the hosts who were to produce the next try of the game. Kieran Dixon found a hole in the defensive line to get the Vikings back in the contest.

The Vikings would have their second shortly after through Lloyd Roby as Widnes took the lead for the first time. The halfback produced an audacious dummy that the Dons didn't deal with. The away side would be dealt another setback when they lost Taulapapa due to injury. The veteran winger came close to scoring in the corner but picked up a knock after being pushed into touch, and his afternoon was cut short. 

The Vikings would extend their lead even further before the interval. Roby, who had already scored earlier in the half, turned creator this time, as Ryan Ince finished off a well-worked move in the corner before Widnes went back-to-back, with Matty Fleming crossing the whitewash, giving the hosts a 20-6 lead at the interval. 

As the second half resumed, the pattern of scoring continued in Widnes' favour. Ince bagged his brace with Roby assisting again. Not giving up, the Dons forced an error from the restart, allowing Reece Lyne to score from the scrum after the England international fended off Joe Edge to hand Horne's men a lifeline. 

After getting his team back in the contest, Lyne's afternoon was cut short after a nasty-looking tackle resulted in an ankle injury. After losing two key players such as Lyne and Taulapapa, more pressure was added to the away side when Lovodua was sin-binned for a late shot. Making their numerical advantage count, the Vikings added another try with Fleming bagging his brace on the edge. 

Showing some grit and determination, the Dons, with 12 men, would add their third try of the afternoon. Robinson's awkward kick caused the Vikings' defence issues before Tom Halliday would ground the ball down to keep the Dons in the contest. 

However, the game was taken away from the Yorkshire side when Widnes' Rhodri Lloyd touched down Roby's grubber kick. Sam Wilde, Kieran Dixon, and Joe Edge would add tries for Widnes before the end of the match in a late flurry as the Dons' Challenge Cup campaign came to an end in Cheshire. 

Widnes Vikings

Kieran Dixon, Ryan Ince, Joe Edge, Matt Fleming, Mike Butt, Joe Lyons, Lloyd Roby, Liam Kirk, Matty Fozard, Liam Bent, Rhodri Lloyd, Sam Wilde, Max Roberts

Bench: Tom Gilmore, Nick Grayson, Ant Walker, Will Tilleke 

Tries: Dixon (2), Roby, Ince (2), Fleming (2), Lloyd, Wilde, Edge

Conversions: Dixon 5/10

Doncaster RLFC

Josh Gudzek, Misi Taulapapa, Reece Lyne, Craig Hall, Tom Halliday, Watson Boas, Connor Robinson, Keelan Foster, Greg Burns, Suaia Matagi, Sam Smeaton, Alex Sutcliffe, Joe Lovodua

Bench: Brad Hey, Tyla Hepi, Ilikaya Mafi, Jude Thompson

Tries: Lovodua, Lyne, Halliday

Conversions: Robinson 2/3