REPORT | Doncaster RLFC 20 Sheffield Eagles 26

Doncaster RLFC were beaten 20-26 in the South Yorkshire derby at the Eco-Power Stadium this Good Friday afternoon.

The game went back and forth several times with the Dons and Eagles both having periods of the game leading, but with the South Yorkshire weather changing as often as the team in the lead, it was the visitors that finished the day ahead to take the two points back to Sheffield. 

It only took five minutes for the first points of the day to be registered, Cory Aston finding his way over the line and converting the extras himself. 

The rest of the opening 15 minutes was a little scrappy with glimpses of positive play being matched by errors from both sides. It was in the 15th minute however, that the visitors put together the first real sustained period of pressure resulting in their second try of the afternoon. Jack Hansen managing to find his way over but Aston on this occasion failing to convert. 

The first of a couple of individual moments in the game came via Reece Lyne breaking the Sheffield defensive line and gaining 40-metres before handing off to Josh Guzdek who jinked his way over the line. 

Connor Robinson taking the opportunity to put himself in touching distance of 1500 points in his career, leaving the game at 6-10. 

The hosts were in again just after the half-hour mark, the Dons using their period of completing back to back sets to find Robinson who fancied earning his career milestone on his own. Great footwork to dance his way through Sheffield bodies and touching down. 

Converting the extras completed the milestone putting him over 1500 points, a fantastic effort. 

As the first 40 came to a close the Eagles found themselves in a good attacking position, with the last action of the half James Glover put the visitors ahead at the break 12-14 with Aston again unable to convert. 

The second half resumed and it was the hosts that got on the front foot, swinging the game back in their favour through Joe Lovodua, making his league debut for the Dons. 

Robinson put Doncaster 18-14 ahead with another successful kick. 

Only four minutes later the Dons inflicted more damage on their South Yorkshire counterparts, punishing an interference by kicking over a penalty to go a further two points ahead. 

The second half continued to sway back and forth in terms of possession with neither side really taking control. 

Just after the hour the visitors hit back, a kick from centre out wide wasn’t dealt with and Kris Welham picked up the pieces touching down. 

Aston couldn’t take full advantage from the kick but it left the game at 20-18. 

Only moments later Sheffield flipped the game on its head yet again, this time through Matthew Dawson-Jones who found a gap in the Dons defensive line and managed to breach it running 20-metres through to go over. This time Aston managed to find his kicking game. 

The game entered the last ten and it was Luke Briscoe’s turn to put on the after-burners chewing up 40-metres giving the home faithful hope of another sway in the game, it was only a high tackle from James Glover that stopped him. A tackle that saw Glover sent to the sin bin. 

Another high tackle followed minutes later, this time in favour of the away side and being within distance of the sticks, the Eagles opted to kick over for two leaving the game at 20-26 with only five minutes remaining. 

A late push from the Dons and another yellow card offence seeing Ben Jones-Bishop sin-binned on the hooter wasn’t enough to add to the scoreboard and it was the Eagles that took the South Yorkshire bragging rights on this occasion.