Trophy time, but another scratchy win

Abstract

Rovers players got back into the game with a Michael Smith try in the 16th minute. It was a typical close range effort from the big Kiwi forward and it was his 14th of the season. Damien Couturier converted and Rovers trailed 10-6.

That should have been the stage for Rovers to kick on, but credit to Doncaster, who continued to complete their sets and penetrate the Rovers rearguard.

As Doncaster looked to break out of their half, Ford put in a crunching tackle on Neil Lowe. As both players fell to the ground, Ford emerged with the ball and ran untouched to the Doncaster line, while the visitors waited for a whistle from the referee.

Hull Kr collected the Minor Premiership trophy with another hard-fought win over Doncaster Lakers at Craven Park.

There was a carnival atmosphere at the home of the Minor Premiership champions, but the visitors threatened to spoil the party with a spirited performance.

The Lakers needed to win and hoped other results went their way and in the early stages, it looked to be going their way.

After half an hour, Lakers led 18-6 but the champions recovered well after the break to put some daylight between the two sides.

It might not have been the performance the 3,641 crowd expected, but a win is a win and more importantly, Justin Morgan's side came through the game injury free.

Rovers will now face Widnes at Craven Park on September 24 and they will have a bit of work to do to iron out a few problems in their play.

Against Doncaster, there were very few line breaks, or offloads, and too many missed tackles in the first half.

The good news for Morgan is that he can put this sort of display behind him and prepare for the Vikings.

"It was scratchy," said Morgan.

"The cohesion I was looking for wasn't really there. It's behind us now and I think we might have been guilty of having one eye on the Widnes game.

"All credit to Doncaster who came out and gave it a real shot. Their aggression and enthusiasm was good.

"We were more composed in the second half and we got the job done."

Doncaster made an error-free opening to the game with the first six sets completed.

Crucially the sixth of these was converted into a try by Chris Buttery.

Doncaster player/coach Graham Holroyd showed his temporary promotion to the head coach role has taken nothing away from his playing ability. It was his pass that sent Buttery over in the left-hand corner.

Holroyd missed the touchline conversion, but made up for that by converting Danny Mills' score.

There was a touch of good fortune about it, although Leroy Rivett won't want to see it again.

Holroyd was heavily involved in the creation of the try with a deep high kick into Rovers territory.

Rivett was scrambling back and fumbled the ball towards his own goal line.

Ben Cockayne tried to resolve the situation but could do nothing as Mills rolled over and grounded the ball.

With barely ten minutes gone, the Rovers fans let their anxiety filter through to the pitch. That's the last thing Rovers players need to hear and if that's going to be the norm for the next few weeks, then supporters should keep their doubts to themselves.

There will be times in the play-offs when Rovers won't have things going their way and the supporters will have to accept that. It is at these times the supporters need to get behind the team.

Otherwise, they can look forward to another season in National League One.

Rovers players got back into the game with a Michael Smith try in the 16th minute. It was a typical close range effort from the big Kiwi forward and it was his 14th of the season. Damien Couturier converted and Rovers trailed 10-6.

That should have been the stage for Rovers to kick on, but credit to Doncaster, who continued to complete their sets and penetrate the Rovers rearguard.

And their attacking prowess was rewarded further when Dean Colton sprinted down the right wing to score under the posts. Holroyd converted for a 16-6 lead and added a penalty on their next set of six when Smith was penalised for an incorrect play the ball.

From the restart, Rovers pressed forward and got another try from the left-hand combination of Byron Ford and Jon Goddard.

Goddard had a split second to collect Webster's pass and immediately he chipped the ball through for his partner Ford to score his 50th try for the club in his 51st appearance.

Couturier was off target with the conversion.

Rovers were denied a chance to reduce the arrears before the break when David Tangata-Toa was punished for another incorrect play the ball.

Fundamental errors were hindering Rovers and no doubt Justin Morgan will have had something to say about that at the interval.

And so it proved. Ford maintained his try-a-game ratio with his second of the game.

As Doncaster looked to break out of their half, Ford put in a crunching tackle on Neil Lowe. As both players fell to the ground, Ford emerged with the ball and ran untouched to the Doncaster line, while the visitors waited for a whistle from the referee.

Couturier added the extras from in front of the posts.

He was back on conversion duty five minutes later when David Tangata-Toa punched his way over the line for his fifth try of the season.

Doncaster full-back Shad Royston has attracted attention from Super League champions Bradford Bulls and he showed why with a well taken try in the 62nd minute, scoring in the left hand corner.

Couturier restored his side's lead with a penalty after Mark Castle's high tackle on Webster.

The Frenchman added another penalty in the closing minutes and in between those, Ben Cockayne scored against his former employers. Birthday boy Tommy Gallagher was stopped just short earlier.

The regular season is now over. Bring on Widnes.