Halifax Panthers unable to follow-up record-breaking win as Doncaster claim Yorkshire derby spoils
Halifax Panthers were not allowed to carry on from where they left off in the record-breaking win at North Wales Crusaders as Doncaster produced an assured performance at The Shay this afternoon (Sunday).
Much like the current weather, Fax were in red hot form last weekend when they ran in 17 unanswered tries at North Wales Crusaders in a sensational 94-0 win.
That was arguably Fax’s finest performance of the season which got them back to zero points after their 12-point deduction.
But Doncaster swatted away any threat of Fax finally getting back into positive numbers today by holding a 22-6 lead at the break before running in another five tries in the second half to secure a comfortable 50-12 victory.
Doncaster’s great display also comes having only played once in the Championship since a midweek defeat at home to Barrow Raiders on May 20, in which they beat Salford 44-16 on their travels at the start of this month.
The visitors opened the scoring after 15 minutes through Watson Boas but Fax hit back straightaway thanks to a Alfie Johnson try after a precise kick from Jesse Soric.
But two tries in as many minutes from Greg Burns and Bureta Faraimo swung the game back into Doncaster’s favour. And when Connor Robinson danced through the Fax defence four minutes before the break, the home side were given a mountain to climb.
Two tries at the start of the second half from Boas and James Glover asserted the visitors’ dominance, although Fax responded through Soric after he latched onto his own grubber kick.
That reduced the deficit to 20 points but Doncaster were able to run in three further scores to seal a 50-12 win.
Halifax: Roby, Tibbs, Johnson, Carter, Will, Soric, Halafihi, Gittens, O’Brien, Forster, Crooks, Calcott, Connor Davies
Interchanges: Curtis Davies, Fairbank, Morgan, Cowen
Tries: Johnson, Soric
Conversions: Carter (2)