Doncaster RLFC 12 Hull FC 46: New-look Dons no match for Super League outfit

Doncaster RLFC slumped to a heavy 46-12 defeat in their opening pre-season fixture against Hull FC at the Keepmoat Stadium.
Photo by Rob TerracePhoto by Rob Terrace
Photo by Rob Terrace

Just one point separated the two sides in the corresponding game last season but it was never going to be that close given the side the Super League club turned out and the fact that it was the first time that the majority of the home side had played together.

Head coach Gary Thornton had admitted beforehand that the game had come a couple of weeks too early for his charges and that full-time Hull were further down the line in terms of preparation.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

That’s why he won’t have been unduly disappointed by the fact that Hull, who included the likes of play-maker Leon Price in their side, scored six tries without reply to lead 30-0 at the end of a one-sided firat half.

He will certainly have been impressed by winger David Foggin-Johnson, who fielded several high kicks well and made a couple of jinking runs and trialist prop Zac Brehan, who took the ball in solidly.

New half-back pairing Jordie Hedges and Jordan Howden also showed glimpses that they could form a formidable partnership.

Hull had too much pace and power for the young Doncaster side and scored three early tries.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

It took the Dons 20 minutes to mount their first serious raid – Howden, one of seven new faces in the starting line-up, being held on his back over the line.

Doncaster’s best chance came when centre Liam Welham, who swept the board at the end of season awards last year, broke well down the left only to throw out a wayward pass to Foggin-Johnson, who may have slightly over-run him, 35 metres out.

Despite falling further behind within minutes of the restart, the Dons were better in the second half and produced several bouts of crisp handling which bodes well for their League One campaign.

The Dons opened their account on 54 minutes when Howden raced in from 35 metres out, for a try converted by Hedges, after pulling off an interception.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Hull hit back with two converted tries to lead 46-6 but the Dons continued to work hard despite being down to 12 men following the sin-binning of Louis Sheriff for a high tackle on Curtis Naughton.

Their efforts were rewarded with a second converted try by prop Connor Scott five minutes from time. Ben Frankland also went close at the death.

Dons: Carr, Foggin-Johnson, Doherty, L Welham, M Welham, Howden. Hedges, Scott, Cross, Brehan, Walton, Foster, Hough. Subs: Jones-Bishop, Cook, Gilbey, Sheriff, Hirst, Frankland, Brown, Harper.