Doncaster RLFC into last-eight of 1895 Cup after thumping 64-0 win

The Dons, who showed a handful of changes to their starting line-up from the side which beat Sheffield Eagles 46-0 a fortnight earlier, took the lead after just five minutes - stand-off Watson Boas bursting through the Salford defence from about 15 metres out and Connor Robinson kicking the first of his ten conversions.

But despite some good work by strong-running forwards Titus Gwaze and Gadwin Springer, they were to flatter to deceive for most of the first quarter.

“Unlike the Sheffield game, I thought we were really scrappy in the first quarter or so,” said head coach Richard Horne. “We’d spoken about being direct, but we played too much lateral rugby. Once we did go direct the floodgates opened and we scored some points. It was a shame we didn’t play that way earlier.

“It was a win and It was pleasing to keep another clean sheet. But I didn’t think the performance was great. We made 14 errors in the game. When you look at where the opposition are and where we are at this moment in time I don’t think we needed to get out of second gear to win and we didn’t at times.

“That was disappointing because we had spoken about that and the need to keep standards high. I think possibly some boys had next week’s (top-of-the-table) clash against London Broncos on their mind.”

The Dons added to their tally when leading try-scorer Edene Gebbie latched on to a long ball 40m out and finished in typical style. He was in again just before the half-hour after bursting through the heart of the Salford defence after coming off his wing.

No sooner had the cheers died down though, than attack-minded full-back Tom Holmes raced over for fourth converted try to give the Dons a 24-0 lead. Second-rower Luis Johnson crashed over from close range in the closing stages of the half, with Robinson, who again organised the side well, adding the extras.

The Dons' decision to run a penalty in front of the posts, rather than go for goal after Salford were penalised in the dying seconds, paid dividends when Holmes claimed his second try following some snappy handling.

Despite starting the second half with a man in the sin bin, Salford enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges but it was the Dons who were the first to put points on the board. A neat off-load by Sam Smeaton, who had replaced winger Buretta Faraimo, helping to set-up Holmes’ hat-trick try on 49 minutes.

Salford again tested the Doncaster defence prior to Smeaton going close at the other end.

Centre James Glover touched down out wide after linking well with Gebbie, who could have scored himself, to make it 46-0. Gebbie also had a hand in Glover’s second try on 75 minutes – his 100th career touchdown - from Robinson’s cross-field kick.

Reece Lyne and Johnson combined to get Smeaton over for the penultimate Dons try. Johnson wasted a fine burst by the full-back when putting down Holmes’ try-scoring pass. Suaia Matagi crashed over on the final whistle.

MATCH FACTS

Performance: 7/10

Entertainment: 7/10

Dons: Holmes, Faraimo, Lyne, Glover, Gebbie, Boas, Robinson, Springer, Misky, Gwaze, J. Jones, Johnson, McConnell. Subs: Matagi, Smeaton, Baldwinson, Pauli. 18th man: Mustapha.