Doncaster 12 Dewsbury 24: Dewsbury pile on the pressure at Doncaster

The first period turned into a comedy of errors after Dewsbury had looked set for a big win when they led 10-0 after only eight minutes.

Joel Farrell brushed off a weak challenge to touch down after Aaron Brown had sent him charging through in the fourth minute.

Then Anthony Thackeray and Kieran Hyde combined to expose Doncaster’s defensive deficiency again when they set Dale Morton over in the corner four minutes later.

But a dreadful blunder from Jason Crookes gave Doncaster a foothold in the game when he gave the ball away close to his own try line allowing Sam Doherty the easiest of tries in the 15th minute.

It clearly rattled Dewsbury and they needlessly handed over possession twice more before Mike Emmett raced between the posts six minutes later with Stewart Sanderson adding the points to put Doncaster 12-10 in front.

Dewsbury had been the architects of their own downfall but rallied to take advantage of the home side’s mistakes when they regained the lead before the interval.

Aaron Brown intercepted a pass from Ben Reynolds deep in his own 25 and raced the length of the pitch to touch down with Shaun Leaf doing well to catch him before wasting his efforts with an attempted flying tackle that missed.

Sanity was restored after the interval as Dewsbury cut down on the errors to grab two more tries through Scott Hale and Crookes to clinch the victory.

Doncaster player-coach Paul Cooke left himself out of the side and said later he intended to concentrate on his coaching duties.

He added that he was not definitely calling time on his playing career but said: “Like others I have not been playing well and I feel I can contribute more from the stands than on the pitch at present.”

Doncaster: Scott, Doherty, Welham, Leaf, Sanderson, Nicklas, Reynolds, Tyson-Wilson, Kesik, Waller, Kelly, Smitch, Emmett. Substitutes: Carbutt, Spiers, Clark, Foster.

Dewsbury Rams: Hyde, Morton, Crookes, Hale, Grant, Brown, Thackeray, Hepworth, Hemingway, Jackson, Farrell, T Adamson, L Adamson. Substitutes: Wilbie, Haggarty, Smith, Beckett.

Referee: T Crashley (RFL).