Skolars lost out on a chance to maintain their move upwards towards the play-off spots, although it was not until midway through the second half that the Dons pulled away.

Neither side’s kicking on the sixth tackle was incisive, and both full-backs were able to return the ball with relative ease throughout the game.

Skolars’ James Anthony also made some good runs coming into the attacking line, his first run breaking the defence 40 metres out to open the scoring. Dons went into the lead with a break down the left wing, Nev Morrison avoiding Michael’s Brown’s grasp to ground the ball just before being dragged into touch.

Skolars then gave away two penalties in quick succession, one for offside, one for foul play and after Jack Ely had gone close early in the tackle count, he then barged through on the sixth tackle to put Dons further ahead. Skolars then pulled one back when Sam Gee slipped a pass to debutante Mourad Kriouache to score under the posts.

The Dons took advantage of another penalty, with Craig Robinson unstoppable from 10 metres out. They nearly added a fourth try on the final hooter, Morrison being offside from a chip kick.

Skolars forced a goal line drop out at the start of the second half, Sam Gee being held up on the sixth tackle, but they forced another drop out from the next set of six, from which David Williams powered over the tryline.

Doncaster re-asserted themselves with a try from Dom Dee after some good passing between Scott Spaven and Craig Fawcett. Jack Ely was held up soon afterwards and then set up the next try moving the ball out to Nev Morrison to go over in the corner for his second try. The Dons scored again in the next set of six through Chris Spurr with Skolars seemingly unable to stop the flow. Whilst there was no drama of the type that marred the game at New River, there was certainly some needle between the sides, although that’s probably due to the importance of the game to both sides as the season reaches a critical stage.

When Skolars did get hold of the ball they advanced well, but Don’s defence forced Ade Adebisi into the corner flag. Chris Spurr then broke through the defence and offloaded to Spaven, who was stopped just short of the line, but was able to get the ball out of the tackle with the supporting Carl Hughes picking the ball up a metre from the line for an easy try.

Skolars had a consolation try when Dylan Skee’s break put Ben Bolger over on the left flank, but that was little comfort to Joe Mbu, who was “very disappointed not to have picked up at least a bonus point after being in contention for most of the game.”

 

DONCASTER

1 Mick Butterfield

5 Dean Colton

30 Mike Coady

32 Nev Morrison

2 Stu Sanderson

7 Craig Fawcett

19 Scott Spaven

17 Adam Scott

13 Jack Ely

29 Dom Dee

25 Chris Spurr

24 Craig Lawton

23 Grant Edwards

Subs (all used)

9 Kyle Kesik

15 Craig Robinson

22 Carl Hughes

8 Matt Carbutt

 

Tries: Morrison (11,64), Ely (17), Robinson (35), Dee (55), Spurr (66), Hughes (71)

Goals: Spaven 6/7

 

LONDON SKOLARS

3 James Anthony

18 Aaron Small

33 Michael Brown

31 Will Colleran

5 Ade Adebisi

30 Mourad Kriouache

7 Dylan Skee

25 Austen Aggrey

9 Gareth Honor

40 David Williams

37 Jaroslaw Obuchowski

31 Ben Bolger

15 Olly Purslow

 

Subs (all used)

27 Cariern Clement-Pascall

34 Rob Thomas

32 Sam Gee

20 Guy Aldam

 

Tries: Anthony (5), Kriouache (22), Williams (45), Bolger (75)

Goals: Skee 3/4

 

Penalty count: 11-6

 

Half-time: 18-10

Referee: Craig Halloran

Attendance: 456

 

SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-4,6-4,12-4,12-10,18-10,18-16,24-16,30-16,34-16, 40-16

---