Doncaster vs Halifax - match report

Halifax slumped to fourth on the league table after succumbing to a 39 – 18 defeat to Doncaster at the Keepmoat Stadium.

With Featherstone losing to Sheffield Eagles, Fax had the opportunity to reclaim second with a win over the south Yorkshire side.

However, braces from player/coach Paul Cooke (who also landed a first half drop goal), Steve Snitch, Dave Scott, along with a try from Mike Emmett was enough to make it two defeats in a row for the visitors.

Doncaster’s first set with the ball resulted in points, when Cooke’s towering kick wasn’t dealt with by the Fax defence, and Emmett snapped up the loose ball to score.

It looked as though the contest would be tight as expected when Halifax drew level when Andy Bracek stormed his way over.

The hosts then opened up a 14 point gap inside the remaining 25 minutes of the opening 40. Cooke unlocked the Fax defence to get over, and the player/coach slotted over a drop goal with two minutes to go to the interval.

Just on the hooter, Liam Cunningham broke down the left, and hacked the ball back on the inside for a number of Doncaster players queuing up to score. Scott was the lucky recipient to touch down.

The home side had troubled Fax’s right side a few times in the first half, and it was no surprise to see them go down that side again in the second 40 on their quest for more points. Cooke dummied his way over, Stewart Sanderson missed his first conversion of the afternoon.

Despite being under pressure, Karl Harrison’s men got themselves back within five points of their opponents with back-to-back tries. Luke Adamson used his strength to score, and Paul Mennell scampered over from close range. Simon Brown converted both tries in place of Steve Tyrer, who left the field late on in the first half.

That proved to be the end of Halifax’s scoring for the afternoon, as three scores in the final ten minutes ensured the three points for Cooke’s men. The former Hull FC man assisted all three tries, firstly, he sent Scott over to seal his double.

Cooke’s inside ball found the boot of Snitch who picked up and scored ahead of a Fax defender, and his try tally doubled when he collected a short pass from his coach.