Eagles soar into second spot with fine victory

The Eagles were made to work hard by a Dons team that held the lead for much of the first half.

Winger Scott Turner got the first for the Eagles on four minutes, but the Dons hit back with former Eagles hooker Kyle Kesik, who forced his way over from dummy half. Stewart Sanderson added the goal to put Dons ahead.

A string of penalties handed possession to the Eagles and Tom Armstrong sent in winger Misi Taulapapa, with Dominic Brambani adding the goal.

Second-rower Chris Spurr forced his way over from Kesik’s pass and Sanderson was on hand to add the goal.

Confusion on the line allowed Sanderson to pick up a loose ball to go in for a try, but the centre’s attempted conversion hit an upright.

The Eagles then drew level with Taulapapa taking Brambani’s chip kick with the half-back adding the goal.

With two minutes to half-time Dons Adam Scott was penalised.

Eagles made the extra man count after the restart with prop Mitch Stringer held up over the line. Matt Garside went one better with an angled run to put the Eagles ahead with Brambani adding the goal.

Eagles turned the screw with Armstrong winning the race to touch down a long Brambani kick.

Taulapapa fumbled a kick and Brooke Broughton was in to dive on the loose ball to narrow the Eagles lead.

Eagles looked more comfortable after full-back Quentin Laulu-Togagae took Menzie Yere’s offload to squeeze in, Brambani adding the goal.

The game ended in drama with Eagles Ben Gledhill was sin-binned for punching and, with the last play, centre Danny Cowling went in for a try converted by Sanderson.

Sheffield Eagles: Laulu-Togagae; Turner, Yere, Armstrong, Taulapapa; Walker, Brambani; Gledhill, Davey, Stringer, Knowles, Green, Hirst. Substitutes: Henderson, Garside, Roche, Esposito.

Doncaster: Butterfield; Blakemore, Kay, Cowling , Sanderson; Wilder, Fawcett; Waller, Kesik, Trout, Kelly, Spurr, Emmett. Substitutes: Powley, Broughton, Scott, Leaf.

Referee: Joe Cobb (RFL).