West Wales Raiders 18 Doncaster RLFC 70: Dons ease past League One whipping boys

The home, side who had become the first side in the domestic game to concede a century of points in successive games away to the top two sides in the division, started the game low on confidence.

What little confidence they had was quickly shattered as the third-placed Dons raced into a 22-0 lead before the end of the first quarter.

Prop Connor Scott opened the flood-gates as early as the fifth-minute when he raced on to an offload by dual-registered loose-forward Jack Downs and rounded the full-back.

The roles were reversed three minutes later with Downs touching down for a second try converted by scrum-half Jack Miller after Scott had scattered several defenders when breaking from his own half.

Miller celebrated his return to the side when getting the better of several defenders when scoring a superb individual 40m try.

Prop Ross Osbourne, who formed part of a much-changed Doncaster pack, kept the scoreboard ticking over when claiming a fourth try on 17 minutes which Miller again converted.

There was no respite for the plucky but outclassed home side as the Dons added four more tries in the second quarter as they continued to score more than a point a minute. Full-back Richard Owen made the running for second-rower Frankie Mariano’s debut try prior to hooker Kyle Kesik, who led the side in the absence of Ryan Boyle, bagging a trademark touchdown from acting half-back.

Winger Aaron Jones-Bishop touched down for the fifth successive game before leading try-scorer Jason Tali got in on the act to earn his side 42-0 interval lead.

The Dons took less than four minutes after the restart to pass the 50-point mark. Osbourne bagged his second in the 41st minute with the strong-running Tali also bagging his second try after swatting off several defenders.

Miller converted both to make it 54-0.

Back-rower Jason Muranka claimed Doncaster’s 11th try after latching on to a loose ball in the 46th minute.

Farrar finally gave the home fans something to cheer when crossing from acting half-back near enough for Tennant to convert to make it 58-6 on 52 minutes.

There was more joy for the Welsh side when Silver raced in from the halfway line for a second converted try on the hour.

Normal service looked to be resumed when winger Sam Doherty, who started on the bench, squeezed in at the corner for Doncaster’s 12th try which Miller again converted.

But there was another shock for the Dons when Raiders claimed a third converted try on 68 minutes.

Muranka shrugged off a couple of markers to pick up his second try four minutes from time. Miller again added the extras to complete the scoring to ensure that the Dons topped the 70 point mark in a league game for the second time this season.

Dons: Owen, Jones-Bishop, Welham, Tali, Sanderson, Howden, Miller; Scott, Kesik, Osbourne, Bower, Mariano, Downs. Subs: Braham, Muranka, Hedges, Doherty.