Dons Challenge Cup Campaign Begins With Tough Test
Posted by Jemmo on March 05 2010 12:50:34
The Dons need to get the dissapointment of last week behind them as they enter this years Challenge Cup looking to get a result against Siddal, who will be very much up for the occasion and looking for a "shock".
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I am sure that all genuine Doncaster rugby league supporters will hope that whatever the outcome of this weekends Carnegie Challenge Cup Third Round Match against Halifax-based amateurs Siddal there will be no repeat of the disgraceful scenes which happened this time last year when Queens ARLFC visited the Keepmoat Stadium. On that occasion, the Queens players were giving a good account of themselves up to the point early in the second half where the Dons started to get on top. From that point, the niggling on the pitch started and was quickly followed by violence in the stands which in all honesty had been threatening to happen from early on, such was the behaviour of some of the travelling support.
In terms of the match in prospect, this looks a real 'banana skin' of a tie for the Dons as the visitors produced a clean sweep of the available trophies last season, topping the National Conference Premier Division at the end of the regular season and the following up with a Grand Final victory over East Hull at Post Office Road and a National Cup Final win at Flyde RUFC against Wigan St. Cuthberts. This season, their form continues to be good as they currently sit in second place in the Conference Premier Division, three points behind leaders Leigh East but with a game in hand. They boast the most potent attack in their competition averaging over 30 points per match and the best defence conceding an average of less than 12 points per fixture.
Half backs Shaun Garrod and Lee Gudor will look to create opportunities for a three quarter line which contains regular try scorers Gareth and Shaun Blackburn on the wings and centres Andy Bowman and Chris Marsh. Shaun Blackburn was once on Halifax's books as was one of the options at full back, Brad Attwood. The other likely candidate for the number one shirt would be Scott Caley. The Halifax connection continues with likely loose forward Luke Simeunovich and hooker Simeon Hoyle who may well share those duties with Sean McCormack. Other forwards likely to figure include props Ben Kendall and Andy Senior and second row forwards James Simeunovich and former Sheffield Eagle Nick Smith.
Siddal qualified for this round of the Challenge Cup following a never-say-die victory over Oulton Raiders in the second round where four tries in the last 20 minutes of the match saw them eventually run out 34-30 winners having trailed 30-10, so the Dons will know that they will need to keep up the workrate for the full eighty minutes.
Tony Miller will welcome back stand off Simon Brown but that good news is tempered by the fact that other playmakers Craig Fawcett who requires a second operation on damaged fingers and Grant Edwards who could be out for six to eight weeks with a knee injury will both be unavailable having had to be withdrawn last week at Spotland. Club Captain Craig Lawton and fellow forward Garry Ellery look set to return but centre Aaron Henry who returned from injury at Rochdale picked up a facial injury and will miss out.
Lets hope for an entertaining contest, a Dons victory and all of the action on the the pitch!
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