Doncaster RLFC: Thornton takes positives from defeat to unbeaten Toulouse

Doncaster RLFC are still looking to capitalise on home advantage in the League One Super 8s.
Ryan Wright reaches for the line.Ryan Wright reaches for the line.
Ryan Wright reaches for the line.

But the Dons, who dropped a place to fifth as a result of yesterday’s 38-18 defeat by unbeaten Toulouse, performed much better than in the embarrassing defeat by Barrow a fortnight earlier.

“It was a much better showing and I thought we built on the win at Hunslet last time out,” said Dons boss Gary Thornton.

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“Toulouse are a very good team and they showed that when scoring their two first half tries. They are very clinical when it comes to turning defence into attack.

“Their No 6 Ford was a big influence but I thought we contained him well for most of the game. “I thought we played very well ourselves in the first half and as well as defending well off set-plays we also created several other chances and we were perhaps unlucky not to come in level as I’m convinced Ryan Wright scored.

“They increased their 12-6 interval lead but we got it back to 22-18 and we were back in the game at that stage.

“But we always knew that with them being a full-time team, and being very fit, that they would finish strongly – just as they had in the game in Toulouse – and they scored three further tries – a couple of soft ones from our perspective.”

“It didn’t help that we lost centre Liam Welham with a shoulder injury during that period.

“As I say, there were a lot of positives and I didn’t feel they were 20 points better than us.”