London Broncos 42 - 06 Doncaster RLFC

London Broncos reached the penultimate stage of the Betfred Championship Finals with a 42–6 victory over Doncaster.

The opening stages saw both sides create opportunities without scoring. In the 13th minute, London were penalised on their own 10-metre line. Doncaster kicked to touch, then received a six-again and another penalty to gain possession 10 metres from the Broncos’ line. London’s defence held, and the visitors were unable to score from the set.

London took the lead in the 17th minute following a penalty. Dean Hawkins found touch and the Broncos moved upfield, with Alex Walker stopped three metres short of the line. From the play-the-ball, Siliva Havili, Connor O’Beirne, Hawkins and Brandon Webster-Mansfield moved the ball from left to right, allowing Neil Tchamambe to cross in the right corner. Hawkins was unable to convert.

Doncaster responded when Luis Johnson made a break through the middle and reached within 10 metres of the London line before Gairo Voro made the tackle. A pass towards the right wing then touched a London player in the tackle before rolling into touch. Doncaster regained possession but lost the ball when Bureta Faraimo’s grubber went into touch.

London had a potential try ruled out for a knock-on by Webster-Mansfield before extending their lead in the 27th minute. Doncaster lost possession 30 metres from their own line and, after two tackles, Emarly Bitungane passed from dummy-half to Voro. The winger ran through to score, with Hawkins converting to make it 10–0.

London scored again shortly afterwards. Edene Gebbie was unable to gather a high kick before Finley Glare lost possession close to the Doncaster line. As the initial error had come from Doncaster, London were awarded the scrum 10 metres from the line. On the first tackle, Voro passed to Tchamambe, who crossed in the right corner. Hawkins was unable to convert.

Doncaster had an opportunity to respond when London dropped the restart and were forced to kick the ball back to the visitors from their own goal-line. The possession ended when Muizz Mustapha lost the ball.

London then created an opportunity through Jack Croft, who made a break before attempting to pass to Voro. The ball rolled into touch, ending the attack.

Doncaster continued with possession and, following a penalty, Watson Boas scored in the left corner. Connor Robinson converted to make it 14–6.

London began the second half with several handling errors, but Doncaster were unable to convert their possession into points. The visitors came closest when Gebbie attempted to score in the corner, but Tchamambe forced him into touch.

In the 53rd minute, Hawkins was taken out after kicking on the last tackle, with Alex Sutcliffe penalised. London received the penalty 10 metres from the Doncaster line and remained in attacking position after two further penalties. O’Beirne then crossed for London’s fourth try, with Hawkins converting to make it 22–6.

London extended their lead on their next scoring opportunity. Gebbie lost possession on his own 30-metre line and Glare collected the ball before passing to Voro. Voro then sent Robert Mathias through, with the centre running 20 metres to score. Hawkins converted.

Two minutes later, Luke Smith broke through three tackles from his own 30-metre line and ran the length of the field to score, fending off a challenge from Tom Holmes. Hawkins converted to make it 34–6.

In the 66th minute, Voro scored his second try of the afternoon after a 20-metre diagonal run into the left corner. Hawkins’ conversion attempt struck the left upright and bounced away.

Reagan Campbell-Gillard, O’Beirne and Walker each went close to adding to London’s score before Epel Kapinias crossed in the 74th minute. Kapinias followed O’Beirne’s run and received the ball two metres from the line to score. Hawkins converted, taking his personal tally to 10 points.

In the 78th minute, Holmes was sin-binned for a high tackle on Voro. Players from both sides then came together before the referee intervened.

Following the sin-binning, Tchamambe crossed in the right corner, but the referee ruled that the ball had not been grounded correctly and the try was disallowed.

The result means London will progress to the next stage of the Championship Finals. Their opponents for the weekend of 27 September will be determined following next weekend’s fixtures.

London Broncos: 22 Alex Walker, 26 Neil Tchamambe, 20 Brandon Webster-Mansfield, 3 Robert Mathias, 2 Elliot Wallis, 23 Gairo Voro, 7 Dean Hawkins, 8 Reagan Campbell-Gillard, 13 Siliva Havili, 16 Epel Kapinias, 11 Luke Smith, 12 Jack Croft, 15 Sadiq Adebiyi.

Replacements:  6 Connor O’Beirne, 10 Emarly Bitungane, 14 Finley Glare, 24 Lewis Bienek. 18th man: 9 Sam Davis.

Tries: Tchamambe (18, 32), Voro (28, 66), O’Beirne (55), Mathias (59), Smith (61), Kapinias (74)

Goals: Hawkins 5/8

Field-goals: None

Sinbin: none

Doncaster RL: 1 Tom Holmes, 2 Bureta Faraimo, 4 Reece Lyne, 24 Watson Boas, 18 Edene Gebbie, 6 Cory Aston, 7 Connor Robinson, 8 Brad Knowles, 19 Connor Jones, 10 Suaia Matagi, 22 Luis Johnson, 12 Alex Sutcliffe, 14 Jacob Jones.

Replacements: 17 Muizz Mustapha, 20 Isaac Misky, 21 Tyla Hepi, 31 Tom Whitehead. 18th man: 13 Loui McConnell.

Tries:  Boas (39)

Goals: Robinson 1/1

Field-goals: none

Sinbin: Holmes, 78 (high shot)

Match report by David Ballheimer