Doncaster RLFC: Thornton pleased with Oxford work-out

The relegated Championship side ran in ten tries against their League One rivals in a mainly one-sided game.

Although head coach Gary Thornton admitted that the visitors are unlikely to be challenging for a play-off place next season, he declared himself happy with the work out.

“With the players we had unavailable I was pretty pleased with our performance,” he said.

“We were a bit light on numbers but the performances of some of the players gave me food for thought and it also gave me an indication of how much strength in depth we’ve got in the squad, which was pleasing.”

A number of players impressed Thornton, including props Connor Scott and Zac Brehan, second-rower Jack Walton and Australian scrum-half Jordie Hodges.

“Jordie certainly took the game by the scruff of the neck and he did a great job leading us around the field,” he said.

“Full-back Tom Carr also did a great job deputising at stand-off and I’d have no worries about playing him there during the season if we were short.

“He played the odd game there late last season on his return from a serious knee operation but he struggled and probably didn’t do himself any favours with the fans but we were short of numbers and I appreciated him putting his hand up. I know that he’s a good player and I’m sure he’ll show that this season now he’s fully fit again.”

Dons host Leeds Rhinos in their final friendly on Sunday, February 7.