REPORT | Wakefield 72 Dons 6

Doncaster RLFC finished the 2024 season at the DIY Kitchens Stadium on Sunday, taking on league leaders Wakefield Trinity in West Yorkshire.

With the Dons knowing they'd end the year in eighth position no matter the outcome in Wakefield, coach Richard Horne rang the changes with some young squad members getting a chance to battle it out with Super League-bound Trinity.

Always going to be a tough ask coming to a group where the hosts haven't lost all season, a spirited Dons performance ended in a heavy 72-6 at the hands of Wakefield. 

Wakefield took the lead early on through Max Jowitt, who managed to escape the clutches of a few Dons defenders. Trinity would go back-to-back as former Don Luke Gale was instrumental in hitting a cutout pass that found Derrell Olpherts waiting on the wing to dive over in the corner. 

After an early onslaught, the Dons found some momentum. A few errors from Trinity allowed Horne's men to ask questions close to Wakefield's line, but the hosts stayed strong, and Doncaster couldn't land a killer blow. However, on the 20-minute mark, Craig Hall's pass innitlay hit the ground but was collected by Jason Tali who was on hand to dance his way through a couple of would-be Wakefield defenders to crash over the line. 

Going toe-to-toe with the league's best, the Dons had their moments. Still, landing the clinical blow was the difference at times, as Trinity extended their lead before the break thanks to tries from Mason Lino, Iain Thornley and another for Max Jowitt. Going into the sheds 24-6 down, the Dons still had plenty to be positive about.

The second half was a carbon copy of the first. The Dons showed glimpses of promise, but Wakefield proved why they're destined to return to the top flight in 2025. 

Caleb Uele crashed over early after the restart, followed by tries from Thornley, two from McGillvary, Vangana, Atoni and another two from Max Jowitt. A tough day on the scoreboard and the pitch, but the Dons can be proud of their season.

For the Dons, an eighth-placed finish in the Betfred Championship exceeded outside expectations, and Horne's men will have a well-deserved off-season before returning in 2025. 

Wakefield Trinity

Max Jowitt, Jermaine McGillvary, Iain Thornley, Oli Pratt, Derrell Olpherts, Luke Gale, Mason Lino, Josh Bowden, Harvey Smith, Ky Rodwell, Matty Ashurst, Josh Griffin, Jay Pitts, Renouf Atoni

Bench: Liam Kay, Caleb Uele, Isaiah Vangana, Mathieu Cozza

Tries: Jowitt (4), Olpherts, Lino, Thornley (2), Uele, McGillvary (2), Vangana, Atoni

Conversions: Jowitt 10/13

Doncaster RLFC

Josh Guzdek, Luke Briscoe, Reece Lyne, Jason Tali, Tom Halliday, Craig Hall, Watson Boas, Lewis Baxter, Loui McConnell, Suaia Matagi, Alex Sutcliffe, Sam Smeaton, AJ Wallace

Bench: Bureta Faraimo, Brad Hey, Alex Holdstock, Ilikaya Mafi

Tries: Tali

Conversions: Hall 1/1