Match Preview

Doncaster Rugby League are back on the road again and make the journey to Wrexham to face North Wales Crusaders at their Racecourse Ground on Sunday 27th May - please note the earlier kick-off time of 2.30pm.

The Dons will be looking to get back to winning after they suffered a heavy defeat against fellow promotion chasers Workington Town last Sunday.

They looked good value for money and raced into an 18 nil lead before former Great Britain forward Jamie Thackray came off the bench and changed the game in favour of the hosts.

The second placed Dons will be without dual registration Danny Cowling, who suffered a compound fracture of an index finger last weekend, for around 6 weeks. Both Dean Colton (knee) and Craig Lawton (illness) are available for selection whilst full back Mick Butterfield will undergo a late fitness test.

Dons' head coach Tony Miller said: "We've got quite a long break after this fixture and it will give some of the lads some much needed rest time and we'll hopefully have a few players back from injury by the time we play Gateshead at the Keepmoat (Sunday 24th June).

"Last week was obviously disappointing and we've draw a line under that performance. It's important we bounce back against North Wales and we've got the personnel and the character to do just that.

"We're expecting a tough game against the Crusaders and they've picked up some decent wins especially the recent one at Oldham.

"Nobody was more disappointed than the players last week and they'll be doing their best to bring the points home."

North Wales Crusaders have signed the experienced back row forward Andy Gorski on loan from Championship club Swinton Lions and is expected to go straight into their squad for this weekend.

Danny Hulme faces a late fitness test on a calf injury before their head coach Clive Griffiths can finalise his squad. However, Jono Smith still remains up to three weeks away from a return to first team action.

Griffiths said: "Having last week off gave us a bit of a break, but I'm not keen on missing too many games.

"However, we did some extra training and we've been able to stretch things out over a full week, which was good for us.

"Doncaster are going to be hurt by their loss at Workington. They'll be favourites on Sunday, obviously - but Oldham were favourites against us too.

"I just hope we can continue to show that we'll be competitive week in, week out. That was the aim coming into this division, and we're gradually getting there."

He added: "Doncaster are a very potent side. Paul Cooke is a great talisman, and with Craig Fawcett and Kyle Kesik they've got a good triangle in the middle."

That didn't last long ...

Bet365 now ...

NW Crusaders +16pts 10/11
Dons -16pts 10/11
Handicap Draw 16/1

BetVictor, Paddy Power & William Hill concur whilst Skybet and Ladbrokes currently ask the Dons to concede 18 points.

Team

Butterfield

Sanderson
Spurr
Waterman
Hodson

Cooke
Fawcett

Castle
Kesik
Spiers

Lawton
Kelly

Emmett

Reps:

Welsh
Robinson
Colton
Powley

Ref J Bloom

3 mins Crusaders 0 Dons 6
Try Spiers Goal Hodson

8 mins 6-6

20 mins Crusaders 6 Dons 12
Try Spurr Goal Hodson

25 mins 12-12

29 mins 18-12

36 mins Crusaders 18 Dons 18
Try Spiers Goal Hodson

HT 18-18

47 mins Crusaders 18 Dons 24
Try Cooke Goal Hodson

51 mins Crusaders 18 Dons 28
Try Fawcett

52 mins 22-28

61 mins Crusaders 22 Dons 34
Try Butterfield Goal Hodson

66 mins Crusaders 22 Dons 40
Try Fawcett Goal Hodson

72 mins 28-40

76 mins Drop Goal Fawcett

FT Crusaders 28 Dons 41

HT Whitehaven 24 Barrow 24

FT London Skolars 48 Gateshead 22

Great win to get back on track. A bit worrying shipping so many points again, makes for exciting rugby but against the better teams can't rely on just trying to outscore them.

well done lads

FT Whitehaven 28 Barrow 42

Dons remain second, a point behind Barrow (who have a game in hand). Workington stay third despite having no game this weekend but Whitehaven and Oldham both lose ground on the top two.

probably the result we wanted wanderer, puts more distance between the Dons and the chasing pack. Operation promotion coming along nicely

Definately the result I wanted - particularly with how close whitehaven would be breathing down our necks if they win their game in hand. This has helped give us a slight cushion for now.

Yes, happy enough with that. It would have to be a real loss of form now for us not to finish in the top 4.

Oldham and Rochdale's results are giving us and the 3 Cumbrian clubs every chance of promotion.

yep, agree with that

Championship one tables news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_l ... 487547.stm

Championship one tables news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_l ... 487547.stm

Great result for the lads today.but I have got to say I was quite impressed with the crusaders side.dropped balls and mis passes cost them dearly. But if they sort it out I can defo see them. Doing us a favour or two before the end of the season