REPORT | Widnes Vikings 16 Doncaster RLFC 14

The Dons fell to a narrow defeat in the Betfred Championship as they lost out by two points against Widnes Vikings at the DCBL Stadium.

The Dons opened the scoring through Sam Smeaton in the first half but two Widnes tries in three minutes saw the hosts ahead at the break with a 10-8 scoreline.

The Vikings furthered their advantage with a third try within five minutes of the restart before Craig Hall narrowed the deficit to two points with 10 minutes left on the clock.

That would be all though for the Dons as a last minute set was intercepted on the line to see Widnes take the spoils.

The hosts started strongly with an early penalty providing the first opportunity to go over but superb defensive work from the Dons saw the ball turned over just short of the line.

It was a competitive opening to the fixture with both sides going close to the line but it was the Dons who went crashing over on 18 minutes as a great break from Suaia Matagi saw Watson Boas shift the ball over to Hall and then Smeeton who touched down. Hall obliged with the extras.

Richard Horne’s side looked to be in again just four minutes later as Luke Briscoe went over the line into the corner but the referee pulled play back for a forward pass in the build-up.

Widnes enjoyed a spell of pressure over the next 10 minutes but the Dons’ line defence stood firm to keep the hosts out.

The Dons then forced a penalty in front of the post for a tip tackle and Hall once again stepped up to send the ball between the sticks for an eight-point lead.

The celebrations would be short lived though as Widnes found the line for the first time on 37 minutes as Tom Nisbet collected a high ball and offloaded to Mike Butt to go over in the corner. Tom Gilmore missing the kick.

With their tails up Widnes found enough time to go over the line again before the break with Joe Edge palming down ahead of Briscoe and Gilmore collecting to score with ease. The number seven then added the extras for a sudden lead at the break.

The hosts continued to ride the wave at the start of the second half and picked up on Dons errors to see Sam Wilde crash onto Matty Fozard’s short pass and score. Gilmore converting again. 

Horne’s men looked for a way back into the game down the left heading into the final quarter of an hour and almost had it with a quick passing move but it was one audacious pass too many to see the ball fly into touch. 

On 67 minutes Robinson’s kick into the goal area was collected by Nisbet but was forced into a goal line drop out. 

The Dons made it count as they applied pressure through Brett Ferres to take it to the line before working over to the right where Hall had a clean run at the line to score. Robinson successfully kicked to bring the visitors within two.

Widnes were penalised for a knock on in the final minutes and gave the Dons one last chance at a late win.

Jason Tali charged at the line from 20 yards but offloaded just short of the line only to see the ball fall into the grateful hands of Widnes’ Max Roberts to deny the Dons and secure a home win.

Dons: Hall, Briscoe, Hey, Tali, Taulapapa, Johnston, Boas, Knowles, Burns, Matagi, Pauli, Ferres, McConnell. Interchanges: Robinson, Smeaton, Lovodua, Hepi. 18^th man: Holdstock.