Ruthless Dons secure status as champions after blitzing Skolars

Doncaster were duly crowned Championship One winners with a ruthless display that ended London Skolars’ hopes of a first-ever play-off appearance.

The Dons first score came in the seventh minute, when a quick play-the-ball saw the attack move to the right wing where Carl Hughes went over.

Four minutes later, it was Craig Fawcett who squeezed through the gap to score and although Paul Cooke was unable to convert either try, he had more success when Doncaster went over on the left flank in the 15th minute, Lucas Walshaw crashing over.

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Doncaster’s defence were resolute until the 28th minute when a teasing high kick from Dylan Skee was contested by Stu Sanderson and John Paxton. Sanderson got both hands on the ball, but Paxton stole it and touched down.

Four minutes later, Doncaster should have extended their lead. Cooke received the ball on the last tackle and shaped to kick. His dummy wrong-footed the Skolars and Dan Cowling burst into a huge gap.

But after feeding Walshaw, he was to be denied by a tremendous last-ditch tackle by Smokie Junor.

Sonn after, however, Walshaw and Cowling both crossed in the space of three minutes, both tries set up and converted by Cooke.

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The last word in the half belonged to the Skolars and Paxton who scored their second try in the right corner.

Chris Colton went over for a converted try, five minutes after the resumption.

Lee Waterman, the competition’s leading try-scorer added two to his collection, after 51 and 67 minutes, and was denied twice by the Skolars.

In-between, a 60-metre interception return by Kyle Keswick was stopped by a brilliant tackle from Neil Thorman.

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A quick move to the right wing then gave Chris Spurr an easy score.

London Skolars: Anthony, Paxton, Price, Arnot, Junior, McLean, Skee, Bryan, Thorman, Williams, Hopkins, M Thomas, Roche. Substitutes: R Thomas, Sykes, Smith, Aggrey.

Doncaster: Waterman, Colton, Spurr, Cowling, Sanderson, Cooke, Fawcett, Spires, Emmett, Castle, Walshaw, Kelly, Hughes. Substitutes: Kesik, Edwards, Lawton, Robinson.

Referee: P Brooke (RFL).

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