Cash gates in operation rlhttps://www.doncasterrugbyleague.co.uk/article/48389/preview-doncaster-v-oxfordrl

Even though we still have numerous forwards out we need a moral boosting win.

Nobody was too worried that we lost to Hull last week. We probably don't expect to beat Leeds next week, depending on the strength of their team, of course, but a loss to Oxford would really get us concerned.

We've probably got something to lose today, whereas in the other two games, we haven't. Weighman is right, we do need a morale boosting win because a loss would be terrible, even though it is only a friendly.

I must admit that I hadn't considered a defeat as an option today. I was thinking more on the lines of how many we'd win by, but the thought of losing is sending shudders down my spine. All of a sudden, the Hunslet match from the last pre-season has sprung to mind.

Yes, players and fans alike need to win today or else the season ahead will take on a completely different complexion. A loss wouldn't be terminal, especially with so many players out, but it'd probably bring us all down to earth with a bump.

Good performance today against Oxford who, apart from the first 15 mins, were under pressure all game. We laid the foundation for the win with solid defence . Some good performances all over the park. Hodges passed the ball well ,Connor Scott , Braham & Walton did well upfront . Liam & Matt Welham impressed as did Tom Carr in the backs . D F-J is a crowd pleaser . Reece Williams (trialist prop)also did well.
Some good tries !
COYD

I agree we should definitely sign up Williams and Braham for mine, although I also like the look of Ricky Hough the other trialist over the last couple of games.

At times for me Walton was the best forward on the field.

Also David Foggin-Johnston MOTM for mine and both him and Matty Welham seem to be excitement machines - look forward to seeing them play more.

We were rubbish I am never going again ever!

Agree that David F-G and Marty Welham are crowd pleasers, but I was impressed with Liam Welham. Not just that he put in a good shift both in defence and when we had the ball, but he was steering the youngsters around him well. Giving a word of encouragement when needed and getting them set up defensively.
A comfortable win against a ring rusty Oxford, and happy the way they threw the ball around. Just need to see if they can temper that when they have a stronger group in front of them.
Never the less, a win is a win, and winning makes a welcome change.

Lots of positives to take from today's game. I was very impressed by Tom Carr at half-back. Louis Sheriff looks a very handy player too. We don't seem short in the important creative positions this season. Jordie Hedges knows how to get us around the park.

Matt Cook looked good when he came on. Matty Welham must be set for a starting place too. Excellent work by Jack Walton, Zac Braham and Connor Scott too. Ben Frankland looked busy too. Foggy on the wing is good to watch!

Well done to all the lads today on a very enthusiastic performance.

really enjoyed today, seems a long long time ago since we had a win. all the players named above had good games today (nobody played poorly ) we seemed to take ages in the second half to get the scoreboard ticking over again but once we scored again we seemed to find our rhythm again. DFJ played really well had a hand in most tries in the first half he will be a crowd pleaser for sure, the highlight of the game for me was connor scotts storming run and touchdown in the second half nobody was going to stop him, superb effort. lets hope for a good perfromance against leeds in 2 weeks time. well done lads. COYDs

Any number of good performances today. Nice to see that we can switch players around positionally with little or no detriment.

Obviously, stronger challenges await, but very heartened by this afternoon's showing.

Good team performance and some good individual performances, slow to start but then took control of the game and played some good stuff, and it could well have been more but for a few errors. Oxford don't look like they are going to win many, tougher games to come, but I think we are on the right track.

Echo what has been said, the props were great with fantastic props tries from both Scott and Braham, With Aizue and Castle to come in and the other guys who have been in the front row I retract my earlier comment that we may need props.

The DFG looks great entertainment and linked up well with Welham. Not so much with the centre (whose name I forget) in the second half who was running the right lines but not able to get the ball out.

Everyone ran hard (a special mention to Sherrife for one particular ball return from fullback which made me think "steady on mate it's a friendly and we're winning"icon_wink.gif and looked for openings which is all we ask.

A lot of positives

Just read the Coaches thoughts on the game, he seems very pleased and with the players to come in calls it exciting times. Reading everyone's opinion on the game and thinking back to the infamous display against Hunslet twelve months ago we do seem to be set up much better this year. The result against a decent North Wales outfit will be telling.

That is the first time I have seen the Dons win since August 2014, since I deliberately didn't go to the last five home games last season when they won two.
The game started off yesterday with Oxford playing the better of the two, at which point I was thinking are we any good?
But once they scored, you could see the confidence running through the Dons side.
That's all it needed .... a realisation that in fact 'eh we aren't too shabby here, actually we are quite good!'
Then away they went ... everyone wanted a go and did have a go.

'Privet' Hedges seemed to blossom and nobody could cut him down to size ...

Foggy was brilliant in[i patches[/i .... who writes this stuff?

Whelam's little brother, who is actually his bigger brother and reminds me of Joel Monahan showed a lot of promise

And that Connnor Scott try was like watching Sam Burgess in full flight.

They were all good by the end and showed good fitness and staying power (marks go to GT for that side) and I managed to dust my old 'Come on you Dons' off and put it to good use.

I enjoyed it.
COYD

One other thing I meant to mention was we scored via numerous methods and didn't seem stuck on one thing. We scored with barnstorming runs, pace,slick passing, reacting to the break down and from dummy. I can't remember scoring from a kick, in fact our kicking near the line was probably our weakest area. Work on that!