REPORT | Dons 26 Batley 0

Doncaster RLFC picked up their fourth win of the Betfred Championship season on Sunday, defeating Batley Bulldogs 26-0 at the Eco-Power Stadium.

It was a scrappy start from both sides, letting the ball bounce from kicks, and passes straying forward, sapping the energy early in a sun-kissed Eco-Power Stadium. However, it would be a moment of brilliance from the Dons to break the deadlock. Connor Robinson's cross-field kick was caught by Luke Briscoe, who found Brad Hey on his inside before hitting Watson Boas underneath the sticks. Craig Hall on kicking duty, converted his first of the afternoon making it 6-0 after 10 minutes in favour of the hosts. 

Things would get better for Richard Horne's side in the following set. Milestone man Jason Tali, who was making his 150th appearance for the club, hit an audacious line from Craig Hall after the Dons rolled Batley upfield, crashing over on his special day. On the front foot, Pauli Pauli and Brett Ferres lead from the front, putting the Dons in good ball. Those efforts were rewarded as Bureta Faraimo got in on the act, scoring in the corner after taking Robinson's kick. A fantastic start from the South Yorkshire outfit, who were putting the Bulldogs to the sword. 

A bruising encounter, both sets of players went hell for leather in the first half, but it was the Blue and Yellow's who dominated throughout. Tyla Hepi and Luke Briscoe went close to adding more tries before the interval, but Batley held strong. Still, going into the sheds with a 16-0 lead was well deserved, but the Dons needed to carry on the intensity shown in the first after the restart. 

In all honesty, both teams were guilty of overplaying as the game continued after the restart. The Dons knocked on the door plenty of times, but couldn't land a knockout blow, albeit for the lack of trying. However, it was the Dons who scored the first try of the second half, and it was the one that ended the game as a contest. Watson Boas started the assault, breaking through the Bulldogs' line, racing upfield before hitting Brett Ferres on short ball later in the set. The stand-in skipper crawling over the whitewash to extend the Dons' lead. 

Faraimo would get his brace before the final whistle thanks to a swirling ball from Josh Guzdek, as the winger put the icing on the cake as the hooter blew in South Yorkshire. 

It wasn't a free-flowing second half, but for the Dons, the job was done. Some superb individual performances combined with a high completion rate and doggedness in defence were enough to get them over the line and register another victory. Up next is a short trip to West Yorkshire to face Halifax Panthers at The Shay. 

Doncaster RLFC

Craig Hall, Luke Briscoe, Brad Hey, Jason Tali, Bureta Faraimo, Watson Boas, Connor Robinson, Brad Knowles, Joe Lovodua, Suaia Matagi, Pauli Pauli, Brett Ferres, Loui McConnell

Subs: Alex Holdstock, Josh Guzdek, Jose Kenga, Tyla Hepi

Tries: Boas, Tali, Faraimo (2), Ferres

Conversions: Hall 2/4, Robinson 1/1

Batley Bulldogs

Robbie Butterworth, Dale Morton, George Senior, Kieran Buchanan, Joe Burton, David Gibbons, Josh Woods, Adam Gledhill, Alistair Leak, Luke Cooper, Dane Manning, Lucas Walshaw, Brandon Moore

Subs: Oliver Burton, Nyle Flynn, Michael Ward, Jon Mitsias

Tries: 

Conversions: