Doncaster traveled to Exeter having suffered further injuries in last week’s Bedford game with centre Nick Wakley (ribs), winger Donavan Van Vuuren (ribs) and Michael Wood (head) all missing the trip.  They were replaced by Duncan Murray, Matt Riley (brought in on loan from Sale) and Jon Benson.  Then, as if things could get no worse, inspirational prop Ngalu Tau suffered a bizarre training injury which resulted in a dislocated finger and he was replaced by youngster Tom Davies.  On the plus side, skipper Rob Liley returned at fly half and back row man Russell Earnshaw returned to the side on the bench.  Exeter were not without their problems following the dismissal during the week of their Director of Rugby, Ian Bremner, after a series of poor results.

Doncaster started playing into the sun on the very heavy County Ground pitch but it was the home side who, apparently with the stimulus of a new coaching team, had most of the early pressure pinning Doncaster into their right hand corner.  However the visitors withstood the pressure well with some excellent defence.  This was the pattern of the game for the first 20 minutes but the impasse was broken when, following yet another series of mauls on the Doncaster line, Exeter fly half Tony Yapp made a half break 10 metres out before feeding supporting No 8 Richard Baxter who went over under the posts.  Yapp’s conversion put Exeter 7 points ahead.   Doncaster came back well and took the game to Exeter.  However, after winning possession from a lineout on halfway, Doncaster lost possession and Exeter broke away to “score” but, after the intervention of the touch judge, Exeter lock Chris Bentley was penalised for punching and the try was disallowed.  The remainder of the half was fairly even but, as the first half went into injury time, Exeter laid siege again to the Doncaster line and the visitor’s prop Steve Barretto was yellow carded for deliberately slowing down possession. With the half now 45 minutes old, Exeter tried one last attack which ended with their scrum half Kevin Barrett crossing a debatable try near the posts (with the referee missing what appeared to be blatant obstruction on a Doncaster defender) to give Yapp an easy conversion and the home side a 14 point lead at the break.

Barretto’s temporary dismissal became even more costly after the break as Exeter took advantage of their numerical advantage by subjecting Doncaster to intense pressure.  The visitors almost cleared their line but a missed tackle allowed fullback Steve Ward to run through unopposed from 40 metres.  Yapp’s conversion gave his side a 21 point lead.  Barretto’s return after 9 minutes of the half was followed by Doncaster’s best period of the game as they copied Exeter’s tactics on the heavy ground and pinned the home side into the corner.  Doncaster had three line outs on the Exeter line and, after each series of drives to the line, the home side were penalised and another lineout ensued.  After being stopped just short yet again, Doncaster drove infield before switching the ball blind which allowed winger Matt Riley (on loan from Sale) to use his pace to score in the corner.  At this point Doncaster made three changes with Johnny Roddam, Russell Earnshaw and Jon Benson replacing Steve Boden, Ryan Peacey and Duncan Murray respectively.  Benson’s introduction was accommodated by moving Jon Boden into the centre to allow Benson to play at fullback.  With 25 minutes gone, Doncaster were penalised 25 metres out, 15 metres in from the right hand touch, for offside at a ruck and Yapp increased Exeter’s lead with a well struck penalty.  Doncaster’s No 8 Dan Montagu departed the action at this point with injury and he was replaced by Ollie Cook.  After 30 minutes Exeter scored their fourth try in rather bizarre circumstances.  Doncaster winger James Rothwell suffered a serious knee injury and, with Doncaster’s medics on the field treating him, play carried on around him.  Doncaster were awarded a penalty only feet from where Rothwell lay and, although Liley found a good long touch to stop the game, Exeter were allowed to take a quick lineout to attack down their left flank where the absence of the injured winger gave space for Gary Kingdom to race through almost unopposed to give Yapp a simple conversion.  With Dan Storey replacing the injured Rothwell, both sides made a series of substitutions to give all their players a run out and, when the referee blew for time after 45 minutes, he ended a totally forgettable game of rugby.

Looking back it is difficult to think of anything really positive that Doncaster can take out of the game apart from some excellent defence for periods of the game spoiled occasionally with some poor missed tackles.  Attacking wise Doncaster seemed very short of options, seemingly incapable of coming to terms with the heavy conditions and badly missing the injured Tau as the only real ball carrier they have in the absence of lock Jimmy Rule who is only now coming back from injury himself.  Exeter, for their part, played to the well documented strength of their pack and, apparently, relieved by the incidents that had rocked them internally midweek.

Exeter

(15) Steve Ward (14) Jason Luff (Ben Scott 76); (13) Ala Fatialofa; (12) Mark Fatialofa; (11) Gary Kingdom; (10) Tony Yapp (Adam Staniforth); (9) Kevin Barratt;(Richard Bolt 78) (1) Steve Bennett; (2) Sam Blythe (Simon Jenkins 78); (3) George Davis (Dan Porte 66); (4) Chris Bentley; (5) James Hanks (Mark Gabey 42); (6) Gary Willis (Tony Walker 66); (7) Alan Miller; (8) Richard Baxter

Doncaster

(15) Jon Boden; (14) James Rothwell (Dan Storey 76); (13) John Cannon; (12) Duncan Murray (Jon Benson 55); (11) Matt Riley; (10) Rob Liley; (9) Llyr Lane; (1) Simon Bunting ; (2) Steve Boden (Johnny Roddam 55); (3) Steve Barretto (Tom Davies 76); (4) Glen Kenworthy; (5) Dan Cook; (6) Ryan Peacey (Russell Earnshaw 55); (7) Simon Grainger; (8) Dan Montagu.

Referee: David Rose (RFU)

John Lowe