Sheffield 30 Doncaster 12: Eagles take derby honours

Sheffield struggled to find their rhythm on a rainy night at the Keepmoat before edging ahead in the final quarter to reinforce their grip on third place.

It was scant reward for a battling Dons team that dominated much of the first reverse fixture but went down to a 12th straight defeat to stay bottom of the table.

Doncaster grabbed the first try from Jansin Turgut after Misi Taulapapa failed to put the ball dead. Dave Scott added the goal.

Eagles struggled as an attacking force and had an escape after Turgut went into touch as he chased his own chip kick.

On the back of a penalty the Eagles finally tested the Dons’ line but Duane Straugheir failed to hold a pass and knocked on. The Dons’ inability to post more points was punished approaching half-time as Cory Aston went over after play was switched to the left. Kyle Briggs added the goal to level the scores.

Soon after the restart Doncaster took back the lead when a high kick was allowed to bounce back for Jack Logan to touch down. Scott added the goal.

Sheffield’s strength and experience tipped the game in the final quarter with Mitch Stringer barging his way over on the last tackle to launch the comeback.

The Eagles went ahead for the first time when Briggs intercepted a Danny Nicklas pass.

Briggs turned the screw with a grubber kick to set-up John Davies and in the final minute Michael Knowles went over with Briggs kicking his fifth goal.

Sheffield: Taulapapa, Turner, Yere, Smeaton, Worrincy, Briggs, Aston, Battye, Carlile, Stringer, Knowles, Langley, Davies. Substitutes: Blagbrough, Davey, Tonks, Straughier.

Doncaster: Scott, Hodson, Logan, Dunn, Fox, Nicklas, Naughton, Spiers, Emmett, Tyson-Wilson, Turgut, Kelly, Snitch. Substitutes: Clark, Groat, Cowling, Foster.

Referee: C Leatherbarrow (RFL).