'Didn’t see that coming' - Richard Horne reflects on Doncaster RLFC's emphatic 72-0 win over Barrow Raiders

Doncaster RLFC head coach Richard Horne admitted he was as surprised as anyone by the way his charges demolished Barrow Raiders in their Betfred Championship qualifying semi-final at the Club Doncaster Sports Village.

“I certainly didn’t see that coming,” said Horne reflecting on the club’s 72-0 win over the Cumbrians who had finished just four points and two places behind the fourth-placed Dons. “We prepared ourselves for a big physical battle because both league games had been like that but the game didn’t turn out that way.

“Both sides started nervously forcing a few passes and making a few errors. But I thought we settled into the game a lot quicker and that helped us get on the front foot and score a couple of early tries and on the back of that we kicked on.

“I thought it was a really good all-round squad performance. We spoke before the game about everyone doing their job and if they did that then everything else would fall into place, and it did. We went on to produce an outstanding display against a very good Barrow team.”

The Dons had been expecting to play second-placed Newcastle in this weekend’s qualifying final (round two of the five-week format) if they to beat the Raiders.

But Widnes Vikings’ win at third-placed Oldham means that they will now travel to the North east with the Dons travelling down south to take on favourites London Broncos.

“We know it’s going to be a tough game, they all are in play-off rugby,” said Horne. “But regardless of what happens we’ll still be involved in the next round whether that is having a bye into the semi-finals or having another home game to try and get there.”

Horne will monitor star winger Edene Gebbie, who picked up a hip knock in the first half of the Barrow game, during the week.

“Hopefully he’ll be available,” said Horne. “He made the running for three second half tries and looked to be moving okay when accelerating through their defence.”