Let's go all the way in cup says Dons chief

Doncaster's Matty Welham looks to skip the challenge of Ryan Smith.
Picture by Dean Atkins — Doncaster's Matty Welham looks to skip the challenge of Ryan Smith. Picture by Dean Atkins

Doncaster RLFC got their 2016 campaign off to a winning start with an entertaining 35-28 win over holders North Wales Crusaders in their iPro Cup first round tie at the Keepmoat Stadium.

Head coach Gary Thornton is now looking for his new-look side to go all the way in the competition for League One clubs and several top amateur outfits, launched last season.

Thornton admitted that he couldn’t relax until winger David Foggin-Johnson touched down late on to leave the visitors needing to score twice in the dying minutes.

“It was probably a very entertaining game for the spectators with it being tit-for-tat, but it’s given me a few more grey hairs,” he said.

“It’s pleasing to have won, and having beaten the holders, but there are still a lot of things we need to work on.

“I wasn’t happy with the fact that every time we scored in the first half we seem to let them in for a try.

“Our game management could have been better at times and I’m puzzled as to why we went for a drop goal at 30-28.

“Having said that Jordie Hedges had a good game and it was close call between him and Kyle Kesik as to who was our man-of-the-match.”

The Dons fielded three Hull FC players on dual registration with stand-off Jordan Abdull scoring a try and setting up another: “We were pleased to have them, but I don’t want to detract from what our own players did,” he said.