Oldham 20-32 Doncaster
14th of September 2008
Sunday 14th September 2008
Young half-back Luke Gale, who will be playing for Harlequins in Super League next season, piloted Doncaster into the National League Two Grand Final play-off with an outstanding 32-20 win at Oldham.
He kicked six goals and scored a brace of tries to win the Co-operative Man of the Match award and to ensure that Doncaster became the first team this season to beat Oldham on their own Boundary Park ground.
Doncaster were off to a flying start to go 18-0 up with an opening try by full-back Zebastain Lucky Luisi and the two by Gale - all converted by Gale - before Oldham made a stunning reply with 16 unanswered points of their own.
By half-time they trailed only 16-18 after tries by Marcus St Hilaire, Paul O'Connor and Phil Joseph, two of them improved by Danny Halliwell.
Oldham looked to have the momentum at that stage, but it was Doncaster who completely governed the second half in which they scored further tries by Andreas Bauer and Wayne Reittie, with that man Gale kicking two penalties and adding a conversion.
Oldham's only reply in the second half was a try by wingman Lucas Onyango as the home side finished well beaten.
Doncaster were awarded eight second-half penalties to Oldham's one - proof indeed that the strict discipline instilled in the Dons by coach Ellery Hanley is paying rich dividends.
Oldham will have a second chance in the play-offs. They will now entertain Rochdale Hornets at Boundary Park in a derby clash next Sunday, but they will have to perform better than they did in this one to overcome their derby rivals and earn a second crack at Doncaster in the final.
Young half-back Luke Gale, who will be playing for Harlequins in Super League next season, piloted Doncaster into the National League Two Grand Final play-off with an outstanding 32-20 win at Oldham.
He kicked six goals and scored a brace of tries to win the Co-operative Man of the Match award and to ensure that Doncaster became the first team this season to beat Oldham on their own Boundary Park ground.
Doncaster were off to a flying start to go 18-0 up with an opening try by full-back Zebastain Lucky Luisi and the two by Gale - all converted by Gale - before Oldham made a stunning reply with 16 unanswered points of their own.
By half-time they trailed only 16-18 after tries by Marcus St Hilaire, Paul O'Connor and Phil Joseph, two of them improved by Danny Halliwell.
Oldham looked to have the momentum at that stage, but it was Doncaster who completely governed the second half in which they scored further tries by Andreas Bauer and Wayne Reittie, with that man Gale kicking two penalties and adding a conversion.
Oldham's only reply in the second half was a try by wingman Lucas Onyango as the home side finished well beaten.
Doncaster were awarded eight second-half penalties to Oldham's one - proof indeed that the strict discipline instilled in the Dons by coach Ellery Hanley is paying rich dividends.
Oldham will have a second chance in the play-offs. They will now entertain Rochdale Hornets at Boundary Park in a derby clash next Sunday, but they will have to perform better than they did in this one to overcome their derby rivals and earn a second crack at Doncaster in the final.
