Out-of-sorts Doncaster RLFC slump to third straight loss against Barrow

It was always going to be a big ask for a Dons side, who started the game level on points with the sixth-placed Raiders, to be at their best playing their second game in four days. In comparison, Raiders had enjoyed a weekend off and looked the fresher side throughout – particularly in the second half. They also won the physical battle up front.

Raiders were gifted an early confidence boosting 6-0 lead when Watson Boas, standing in for leading try scorer Edene Gebbie on the wing, spilt the ball when trying to clear his line from a long kick and prop Joe Bullock made him pay when touching down under the posts to give stand-off Brad Walker an easy conversion.

Boas more than made up for his mistake and was one of the better players, along with the likes of centre James Glover, hooker Connor Jones and loose-forward Muizz Mustapha. Full-back Tom Holmes also produced a solid display in his 200th career appearance. Raiders increased their lead on 17 minutes when second-rower Matt Costello threw out a long pass to centre Curtis Teare who strolled in from close range for a second converted try.

The Dons’ hopes of getting back into the game suffered a blow when in-form prop Titus Gwaze limped off on 22 minutes with a serious ankle injury. Connor Jones provided the spark that the Dons had been missing up to that point when spotting a gap and racing over for a 24th minute try goaled by the returning Connor Robinson.

The Dons drew level on 35 minutes when loose-forward Loui McConnell touched down for a converted try from close range shortly after coming off the bench following good work by Connor Jones and Pauli Pauli in the build-up. Barrow finished the half strongly and after loose-forward Ryan King had been held on his back over the line Walker, who also added the extras, forced his way over from close range.

Barrow were the first to threaten after the break, impressive loose-forward Ryan King going close. The first time Dons got into a good attacking position in the second half, courtesy of a strong Pauli Pauli run and offload, the Dons knocked on. A familiar theme throughout the game at times.

King was on hand to deal with a neat grubber kick to the line by Holmes on 52 minutes. Centre Shane Toal broke strongly before committing Holmes and sending second-rower Ellis Robson over for a fourth converted try to leave the Dons trailing 24-12 with 24 minutes on the clock.

It looked a long way back for the Dons who had hardly threatened the Barrow line since the break – though they did late on - and so it proved with the Cumbrians adding two further converted tries to sentence Richard Horne’s men to their biggest home defeat of the season.

MATCH FACTS

Performance: 6/10

Entertainment: 7/10

Dons: Holmes, Vulikijapani, Glover, Boas, Robinson, Aston, Knowles, Connor Jones, Gwaze, Jacob Jones, Sutcliffe, Mustapha, Subs: Smeaton, McConnell, Pauli, Hepi.