Spaven at the double as Dons beat Batley

The Dons went into the break trailing 6-0, but three second-half tries saw them record their third win from four games at a hot and sunny Mount Pleasant yesterday.

The deadlock was finally broken when Ben Blackmore broke before passing inside for Miles Greenwood to race in under the sticks.

The second period started in a lot brighter fashion though, as Spaven dived over from dummy-half in the 46th minute to draw the visitors level.

Batley went back in front in the 53rd minute when Sam Scott flicked a pass out of the tackle to Alex Bretherton, who crashed over from close range.

Doncaster then levelled things up again after 68 minutes as Nev Morrison touched down in the corner, before Stewart Sanderson kicked a penalty with five minutes remaining to edge them in front.

And with just two minutes left to play, the visitors made sure of the win as Spaven recreated his earlier effort by going over straight from acting-half again, with Sanderson adding the extras to put eight points between the sides.

Batley Bulldogs: Greenwood, Blackmore, Bretherton, Paterson, Finigan, Leek, Leatherbarrow, Smith, Blake, Brennan, Scott, Chandler, Applegarth. Substitutes: Johnson, Nicholson, Rowe, Aspinall.

Doncaster: Scott, Colburn, Morrison, Welham, Sanderson, Cooke, Nicklas, Spiers, Spaven, Carbutt, Starling, Kelly, Emmett. Substitutes: Cunningham, Leaf, Castle, Robinson.

Referee: W Turley (RFL).