Doncaster RLFC 12 Barrow Raiders 40: Dons crash in Super 8s opener

It was always going to be a big ask to beat a team which looks to be peaking at the right time without any recognised half-backs, and so it proved.

But the Dons didn’t help their cause with some poor handling in the Barrow half or by their lack of discipline at times which led to them playing with 12 men for 20 minutes.

Raiders travelled down from Cumbria in high spirits having demolished second-place Rochdale at Craven Park and their confidence received an early boost when winger Eze Harper rewarding some slick handling when squeezing in at the corner after just three minutes.

The Dons hit back but lacking their regular play-makers, lacked the necessary guile to seriously trouble the Barrow defence.

Although defences were generally on top, the Cumbrians posed the greater cohesion when in possession.

Stand-off Chris Hankinson, whose touchline conversion had earlier come back off the post, hit the target with a much easier penalty on 17 minutes.