Report: Doncaster RLFC 60 Hemel Stags 0

The Dons, who retain top spot on points difference, ran in eleven tries in their 60-0 win in a game switched to the Keepmoat Stadium.

Not only did Dons equal their biggest league win of the season but they kept a clean sheet for the second time.

It took the Dons just three minutes to open their account with hooker Kyle Kesik, who was making his 200th appearance for the club, crashing over near enough for fit-again Jack Miller to convert.

The club’s longest-serving player was influential throughout and was a deserved winner of the man-of-the-match award.

The Dons were in again on seven minutes. Charlie Martin, another man back on the comeback trail after injury, sent centre Jason Tali racing over from close range for another converted try shortly after Hemel winger Marcus Elliott had been sin-binned.

The Dons weathered their first spell of pressure before extending their lead to 16-0.

Kesik put dual-registered full-back Hakin Miloudi into space and he jinked his way past several Hemel defenders before throwing out a long pass to winger Richard Owen who cut inside his marker to score in the corner.

Although they lacked Doncaster’s cutting edge, Hemel played with plenty of enthusiasm and went close to a try on several occasions before the home side increased their lead with a close-range try in the corner by Liam Welham just before the break.

Although Dons led 20-0 it had not been the try-fest that many supporters will have been expecting considering the fact that the Stags had lost all five league games.

Doncaster’s handling will need to be better over the next fortnight against Featherstone (Challenge Cup) and Bradford Bulls but credit them for trying to play an expansive game.

Tali coasted over within a couple of minutes of the restart. Prop Zac Braham then burst over for a try with back-rower Jason Muranka capping a hard-working display when running strongly to score Doncaster’s seventh try on 52 minutes.

Miller again added the extras.

The half-back was also on target on the hour after Aaron Jones-Bishop, who came in as a late replacement for Sam Doherty and did well, showed the cover a clean pair of heels after latching on to a dropped pass.

Influential scrum-half Liam Harris marked his return to the fray after taking a knock when darting over from close range for another converted try.

The game was more one-sided in the second half and Miloudi broke the 50-point barrier with his 70th minute try. Miller’s conversion made it 54-0.

Owen scored the final try late on which Miller, who could feel pleased with his efforts after his two-month lay-off, converted from touch.

Dons: Miloudi, Jones-Bishop, Bower, Tali, Owen, Miller, Harris; Boyle, Kesik, Scott, England, Martin, Wilkinson. Subs: Welham, Braham, Muranka, Hedges.