Doncaster 16 Barrow Raiders 13: Fawcett takes over centre stage as Doncaster triumph

Tony Miller’s side, defeated by the Cumbrians 22-20 in a qualifying semi-final a fortnight earlier, showed tremendous resolve to edge a tense and, at times, frenetic showpiece.

The South Yorkshire club had to battle ferociously amid a barrage of pressure towards the end but, with Wakefield Trinity Wildcats second-row Lucas Walshaw immense and loose forward Carl Hughes similarly in the thick of it all, they held on for a famous victory.

Dogged Doncaster had shown all their steeliness to beat Workington 20-0 last Sunday and reach Warrington and all that determination was there again yesterday.

It had been 61 years since their last silverware but now, remarkably, Miller can celebrate two trophies in as as many months.

Scrum-half Craig Fawcett, who took on plenty of the organisational work in injured Paul Cooke’s absence, won man-of-the-match with his 57th-minute try effectively the difference.

However, he admitted: “Team spirit brought us through.

“We were under the cosh but there was some massive efforts. Our goal at the start of the year was to win promotion but we talked through the week about how some might not class us as champions if we didn’t win this as well as the League Leaders’ Shield. We were out to prove a point and we did that.”

Barrow scored through centre Chris Larkin after just three minutes, capitalising on a uneasy start from Miller’s side, but they would not break them again until four minutes from the end.

Admittedly, their opponents had three efforts chalked off by the video referee Ian Smith in between but coach Darren Holt had no qualms with any of those decisions and Doncaster’s line-defence was outstanding.

Doncaster winger Stu Sanderson picked up a loose pass and scrambled over from 10m to settle early nerves in the 11th minute.

Perhaps taking notice of Leeds Rhinos’ captain Kevin Sinfield on Friday night, Barrow didn’t miss the opportunity to grab what they could while they could when they entered Doncaster territory, Andy Ballard putting them ahead with a penalty after an off-the-ball challenge from erratic hooker Mike Emmett and Scott Kaighan adding a drop goal just before the break to send them in 7-4 ahead.

Barrow thought they had extended their advantage after the restart when Ballard crabbed across field and found James Nixon arrowing back infield.

However, Smith ruled it out for a fumble and, in the next set, Fawcett’s long pass put Walshaw storming through with full-back Lee Waterman finishing off and Tom Hodson converting.

Barrow, as expected, came back forcefully but fierce Doncaster were unyielding once more and then ruthlessly seized their own chance as Fawcett dummied through, Hodson improving.

Barrow, led by their relentless captain Liam Harrison, surged back as they battled to rescue their hopes of success but Doncaster constantly repelled them.

They finally buckled when Aaron Low crossed in the 76th minute, Ballard’s conversion narrowing the gap to just three points, but Miller saw his side maintain their nerve for a deserved victory.

Doncaster: Waterman; Hodson, Spurr, Cowling, Sanderson; Keswick, Fawcett; Castle, Emmett, Spiers, Kelly, Walshaw, Hughes. Substitutes: Powley, Robinson, Edwards, Cunningham.

Barrow: Ballard; Haney, Larkin, Low, Nixon; Kaighan, Campbell; Butler, Dandy, Duffy, Harrison, Gordon, Toal. Substitutes: Finch, Ostler, McGoff, Dawson.

Referee: J Leahy (RFL).