Late try sees Doncaster RLFC defeat Batley Bulldogs in tight contest

Leading 12-0 at the start of the final quarter, and seemingly on course for a second league win in three starts after dominating the game territorially, the Dons suddenly found themselves in a dogfight with the Bulldogs after the home side scored two converted tries in quick succession to level the scores at 12-12.

Ironically, it was Batley scrum-half Josh Woods’ attempt to win the game with a 76th minute drop goal which led to their eventual downfall.

Dons full-back Tom Holmes charged down the kick and hacked the loose ball forward before diving on it deep into the Batley half to create the position from which winger Luke Briscoe sent stand-off Watson Boas over in the corner for a 77th minute try to secure a 16-12 win.

Although the heavy pitch didn’t help the Dons’ cause, they would only have had themselves to blame had they not won given the fact that had they turned more pressure into points in the first hour the game would have been beyond Batley.

With the likes of props Pauli Pauli and Brad Knowles and loose forward Muiz Mustapha catching the eye in the opening quarter with some strong forward drives, and scrum-half Connor Robinson helping to get the backs involved, it came as no surprise when the Dons opened the scoring on 11 minutes.

They moved the ball out to the right inside their own half with Briscoe hacking on his first kick to set up the chance for second-rower Luis Johnson to touch down out wide.

Batley came more in the game in the second quarter, but apart from the odd occasion, lacked the cutting edge in attack to seriously trouble a solid Doncaster defence.

Holmes, who had another good game, went close after breaking down the middle and kicking for the line prior to Robinson landing a long-range penalty on the stroke of half-time to give his side a 6-0 lead which hardly reflected their dominance.

Playing down the infamous slope, The Dons camped in the Batley 20 in the first ten minutes of the second half, during which prop Suaia Matagi showed up well, but all they had to show for their efforts was a second Robinson penalty.

It took them until the 53rd minute to claim their second try – centre James Glover touching down from a pin-point high kick to the corner by Robinson.

Robinson again failed to add the extras. It didn’t look to matter much at that stage but it could have proved costly in the end.

Match facts

Performance: 7/10.

Entertainment: 6/10.

Dons: Holmes, Briscoe, Hey, Glover, Gebbie, Boas, Robinson, Knowles, Burns, Pauli, Sutcliffe, Johnson, Mustapha. Subs: Hepi, Jones, Matagi, Springer.