Match report: Hunslet Hawks 48 Doncaster RLFC 6

Coach Gary Thornton had injury issues to contend with after last weekend’s league win over Keighley.

And the Hawks took full advantage as they surged to a comfortable 48-6 win to hand the Dons a first defeat of the season.

Jack Lee set the tone when he scored the game’s first try for Hunslet after just eight minutes, before Richie Barnett scored the first of his four tries.

Just before the half hour mark Barnett had his second and the home side’s third, going over out wide after some excellent handling from the hosts, and it looked like plain sailing.

But the Dons were back in the game early in the second period when Zak Braham ran over, and the score was 14-6 after Jordie Hedges converted.

Just as the visitors eyed a route back into proceedings, Lee Waterman replied almost instantly, and it looked a tall order once more for Thornton’s men.

Ex-Don Waterman had his second against his former side just before the hour mark and the tie looked settled.

And so it proved, as the Hawks added further tries through Jack Lee and Mufaro Mvududu, before Barnett added two more late efforts to complete his four try haul and send the Dons out.

Hunslet: Watson, Duckworth, Faal, Mvududu, Barnett, Brown, Thomas, Carbutt, Lee, Reed, Waterman, Normington, Williams SUBS: Flanagan, Bell, Buttery, Haley.

Doncaster: Sheriff, Jones-Bishop, Doherty, Welham, Foggin-Johnston, Kesik, Hedges, Scott, Frankland, Nicholson, Tonks, Kelly, Walton SUBS: Cross, Braham, Pickets-O’Donnell, Milton.