In a fascinating match up of one well organised team against a group of individuals learning to play together, Doncaster comfortably beat the nation ranked 32 on the IRB list who have World Cup qualifiers later this month against Poland and Spain. The home side rested several first choice starters to take a look at promising young players, and all made their mark.
A sight of what troubles lay in store for the Dutch came in the opening minutes when Doncaster produced powerful organised mauls that could not be legally defended and Jon Benson kicked the penalties deep to set up attacking line out ball from which he put winger Oliver Cook in for a clinically executed try. Cook, rapidly adapting as a powerful threat in the backs, was again involved when he was tackled high in desperation and Benson added three more points from the sanction. Twice more Cook was in the thick of the attacking action, creating opportunities that weren’t finished off by others and only just being tackled short himself when looking certain to score. A second home try did finally come just before the break when Brad Hunt, making his second start after long term injury and looking remarkably sharp, found the gap to nip in at the posts.
Hunt added another early second half when again a driven maul set up the position from which Charlie Harrison and Benson created the opportunity for Hunt to burst through on the reverse angle to score at the posts. Another big maul saw prop Steve Barretto driven over to extend the lead but just when it looked that the home side might cut loose, the Dutch began to play more like a team than a collection of individuals and began to put good phases together. Ten minutes of pressure finally got just reward when flanker Hamish Caldwell took a quick penalty to dash over for the try which Bart Viguurs converted. Doncaster’s better fitness levels were evident in the closing stages and with Cook and Ryan Peacey leading the way, it was Dan Storey who benefited as a quick penalty went the short side and he entered the line to crash over wide on the right. Benson converted as he had done with every kick at goal in windy conditions and Doncaster’s first “international” win was in the bag! The Yorkshire Cup campaign gets under way on Wednesday evening when Wharfedale visit Castle Park (6.30pm) before next Saturday’s trip across the Pennines to Sedgley Park in the league.
Doncaster: Storey, Cook, Hunt, Murray, Deakin (Lloyd 65), Benson, Harrison (Greenslade 65), Davies (List 52), Roddam (Plevey 65), Barretto, Norris, Rule, Peacey, Poskitt, Montagu.
Netherlands: G Viguurs (De Hoz 65), vd Werf, Grader (Hutana 65), Bester, vd Broek, B Viguurs, Williams, Jonkers, Moeliker (Tallins 65), Mulder (Cullum 48), De Groot, Donkers (Schumaker 65), Mast, Caldwell (Kerster 65), Roberts.
Referee: M. Wilson (RFU) |
