North Wales Crusaders’ play-off challenge was dealt a blow as they lost 30-0 at home to Doncaster.
Although Crusaders had as much ball as Doncaster for large parts of the match, they couldn’t get past a water-tight defensive line.
The Dons defended astutely when required, forcing North Wales into touch on a number of occasions, and three tries in the final 20 minutes took the match away from Crusaders, securing an important win for the visitors.
Doncaster opened the scoring when they broke down the left and an inside pass put Matty Chrimes over.
They built on their lead as Crusaders coughed up possession deep in their own half, leaving Kyle Kesik to pick up the pieces and cross underneath the posts.
When the visitors were awarded a penalty, they opted to kick for goal and Matty Beharrell was successful with the boot, taking their advantage to 14-0 at half-time.
There were no further scores for the first 20 minutes of the second-half and, despite applying plenty more pressure on Doncaster’s line, North Wales couldn’t find a way through.
The away side made their hosts pay for the missed opportunities as Jason Tali forced his way over in the left corner.
The Dons added a fourth when Beharrell lofted a high kick to the corner on the last tackle and a tip back put Connor Bower over.
And the Yorkshiremen rapped matters up late on as Connor Scott made a strong run straight from a tap penalty, bulldozing his way over the line down the left flank.
CRUSADERS
1 Lewis Fairhurst
2 Dave Eccleston
3 Matt Reid
4 Simon Atherton
5 Dante Morley-Samuels
6 Steve Roper
7 Ben Stead
10 Warren Thompson
9 Karl Ashall
8 Brad Brennan
11 Alex Eckley
12 Kenny Baker
13 Stephen Wild
Subs:
14 Dec Gregory
15 Ryan Smith
20 Alex Thompson
17 Jonny Walker
DONS
1 Connor Wynne
5 Sam Doherty
3 Connor Bower
4 Jason Tali
19 Matty Chrimes
33 Rangi Chase
7 Matty Beharrell
10 Ryan Boyle
9 Kyle Kesik
14 Connor Scott
26 Evan Hodgson
24 Danny Washbrook
13 Jordie Hedges
Subs:
27 Jack Brown
2 Richard Owen
22 Brad Foster
29 Jez Litten
Tries: Chrimes (14), Kesik (20), Tali (60), Bower (73), Scott (79)
Goals: Beharrell (4/5), Litten (1/1)
Referee: Michael Mannifield
HT: 0-14
Attendance: 372
