15 June 2014

Rovers started tamely, letting the Dons in for two early scores before turning their game around. Doncaster’s flying start was engineered by some fine prompting from halves Cooke and Richard Wilkinson. First Cooke put Alex Starling in space to send ex-Rover Liam Welham over, and after Mike Emmett forced his way in from close range, Wilkinson’s long pass allowed Whiting to score his first to stretch their lead. In between Rovers staged a brief fight back with Blackmore’s powerful touchdown, and a fine break from Andy Kain for Danny Bridge to score. A minute before the break, Wilkinson also saved the day by tapping the ankle of Seijka, who looked a certain scorer, leaving his side 18-10 ahead at the interval.

After the break Rovers started brightly and Andy Bostock forced his way over from close range, soon to be replicated by utility Jack Busey’s barnstorming effort. The ex-half-back showed remarkable strength as he pushed several tacklers a good ten metres back with him on his charge to the line. The expected avalanche didn’t come for Rovers though and their discipline fell apart, with several slack penalties conceded for obstruction. A strong fightback from the Dons was held at bay by terrific defence, with Andy Kain especially prominent out wide, until the last play of the game.  Doncaster were determined to keep the ball alive on the last tackle, and after numerous offloads that were perilously close to going forward, second rower Starling spotted Whiting in space out on the far touchline and put in a flat, lateral kick across the 20 metre line, which was gathered and taken up to the line for the levelling score. The outcome of the game was left to yet another ex-Rover, but Dave Scott’s conversion attempt sailed wide of the far post to leave the scores at stalemate; a fitting end to such a terrific contest.