Doncaster 16 Halifax 34: Fightback not enough as Halifax hold steady

Halifax had too much pace and power for the home side at the start and Doncaster did not help themselves with some slack defensive play.

The visitors went ahead in the ninth minute when Steve Tyrer fought his way out of three tackles to touch down and added the point himself.

Rob Warrincy increased the lead in the 15th minute when a neat pass from Tyrer sent him over in the corner before Halifax were gifted a third try four minutes later.

Ben Blackmoor caught a high kick behind the Dons’ try line and as he tried to pass to Lee Waterman he made a present of the ball to Tyrer who gratefully touched down.

Sam Barlow powered his way over the line in the 26th minute before Anthony Thackery broke away to send Karl Ashall over for an easy try four minutes later.

Thackery showed too much pace for the struggling home defence when he added a sixth try to make it 34-0 to Halifax at the interval.

But Doncaster displayed tremendous spirit when they turned the tables with a superb second-half display inspired by stand-off Paul Cooke.

The former Hull and Hull KR favourite produced a well-timed pass to send Chris Spurr racing through in the 47th minute and then delivered a fine ball to find Blackmoor, who went flying over in the corner just eight minutes later.

Halifax were suddenly on the backfoot, but made sure of the points after big prop Brett Waller had added a third Doncaster try in the 61st minute.

Doncaster: Waterman, Tuffour, Cowling, Kay, Blackmoor, Cooke, Fawcett, Waller, Kesik, Trout, Robinson, Spurr, Emmett. Substitutes: Castle, Scott, Powley, Leaf.

Halifax: Fieldhouse, Worrincy, Tyrer, Sheriffe, Rettie, Morrell, Thackery, Tonks, Handforth, Bracer, Manning, Casey, Divorty. Substitutes: K Ashall, C Ashall, Barlow, Adamson.

Referee: P Brooke (RFL).