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Swinton fight back to beat Dons in cup
DONCASTER Rugby League Club looked to be on track to get their Northern Rail Cup Pool A campaign off to a winning start at Park Lane yesterday when leading Swinton Lions 20-12 at half-time.
But the Lions roared back to score three unanswered second half tries to dash the new-look Dons' hopes.
Despite the defeat, in the club's first competitive game since being saved from closure by a business consortium put together by Carl Hall, there were some encouraging signs that the Dons will be competitive in Championship One following last season's relegation.
Particularly when the likes of play-maker Simon Brown and skipper Craig Lawton are fit again.
Lawton's leadership and experience could have helped tilt the balance in the Dons' favour – particulary in the closing stages when the game was there to be won.
The young team's lack of experience and understanding out wide was exposed on several occasions by Swinton's seasoned campaigners, but when he has a fit squad available, team boss Tony Miller looks to have the players to rectify yesterday's shortcomings.
The Lions opened the scoring on four minutes when second-rower Paul Smith raced through unopposed from close range for a try converted by full-back Gavin Dodd.
The home side continued to dictate the game and prop Andrew Isherwood burst over from close range on eight minutes.
Dodds added the extras and at that stage the Dons looked in danger of suffering a mauling.
There would have been a third Switon try on 10 minutes, after a good move down the left, had Smith found centre Sam Reay with an inside pass 25 metres out.
The Dons rode their luck and started to come more into the game.
They opened their account on 13 minutes – winger Scott Wilson diving over in the corner from scrum-half clever Craig Fawcett's diagonal kick from 10 metres out.
The Dons clawed another four points back on 21 minutes when New Zealand centre Jarryn Osborne plunged over from close range, too wide out for Stanley to convert, following a bout of snappy handling.
The Dons, with half-backs Fawcett and Grant Edwards and full-back Tommy Griffiths all showing up well behind a hard-working pack, deservedly drew level on the half-hour when loose-forward Shaun Leaf crossed from five metres out from the side of the posts.
Fawcett took over the kicking duties to edge the visitors into a 14-12 lead.
It needed a try-saving tackle by Swinton winger Dave Hull on centre Lee Gomersall after the Dons had kept the ball alive after latching onto a wayward pass in their own 20.
Gomersall went in for the Dons fourth try on 38 minutes. Fawcett again tagged on the conversion to secure his side a 20-12 interval lead.
The Lions drew first blood within three minutes of the restart when winger Rob Foxon crossed for their third converted try following some smart handling in the Dons 20.
Although defending well, the Dons struggled to get their attack going in the second half and the game developed into a midfield battle.
There was a let-off for the Dons on 65 minutes when Foxton ran over the dead ball line when looking to get closer to the posts.
Swinton also rode their look shortly after as Edwards dropped the ball over the line in the act of scoring.
Swinton elected to run two kickable penalties and their gamble paid off when hooker Phil Joseph scrambled over for a converted try on 70 minutes to make it 24-20.
Swinton were reduced to 12 men with just under 10 minutes left following a high tackle on Stanley, subsequently stetchered off, by Joseph 10 metres out.
The Dons had chances to cash in on their extra man but either dropped the ball or took the wrong options.
Former Dons favourite Graham Holroyd dashed any lingering hopes that the visitors might have entertained when winning the race to Foxton's kick from some 40 metres out, to touch down for the Lions' fifth converted try.
Swinton: Dodd, Foxon, Reay. Hull, Hamilton, Hulse, Watson, Wilson, Joseph, Isherwood, Paul Smith, Grundy, Aaron Smith. Replacements: Holroyd, Hull, Heaton, Johnson.
Dons: Griffiths, Wilson, Osborne, Gomersall, Collins, Edwards. Fawcett, Bates, Ely, Stanley, Steen, Liam Brown, Leaf. Replacements: Bassinder, Shaw, Paul Brown, Winter.
Referee: Robert Hicks.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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