Doncaster RLFC hoping for third time lucky in play-offs

Beaten finalists in the last two seasons, the Dons have already beaten the Lancashire side home and away in the league and they also knocked them out of the Challenge Cup in March.

“Although we’ve beaten them three times they were all close games which is reflected by the fact that we only scored 12 points more than they did,” said head coach Richard Horne.

“It’s obviously an advantage to be playing at home. But we know it’s going to be a tough game because they are a quality outfit. They’ve got a big, powerful pack, creative half-backs and they’ve got some strike players who can cause you problems.

“It’s going to be about who takes their opportunities. We’ll probably get the same amount of opportunities as we did on Sunday against Dewsbury and we’ll need to be better at taking them.”

Victory for the Dons would see them visit second-placed Hunslet, with the winner of that game having home advantage in the final.

Should they lose, the Dons would entertain the winners of the Workington-North Wales Crusaders tie with the winners of that game visiting the losers of the Hunslet-Oldham game in the semi-final.

“We are confident of getting the job done this time,” said Horne.

“Sunday’s game was the ideal preparation leading up to the play-offs and the result will give us confidence.”