Last updated at 16:00, Wednesday, 29 July 2009

HAVEN ground out a win at bottom club Doncaster but did it the hard way after substitute Ryan MacDonald received a red card for a head butt on Shaun Leaf in first half stoppage time.

star man: Carl Rudd

Tries by Kyle Amor, Craig Calvert and Carl Rudd proved sufficient for a 19-10 victory.

Coach Ged Stokes branded his team’s performance against the cash strapped outfit boasting just one league victory all season as “dire”.

“No disrespect to Doncaster but any other team today in this division would have put 50 points on us today,” commented Stokes.

“We were dire today and the sending off of McDonald was a good example of our discipline.

“We didn’t ask too many questions. We got 12 points on the board but then wanted to score on every play.

“Our completion rate in the first half was 47 per cent and you should not win a game of rugby league if that is the case.”

Stokes was full of praise for the opposition.

“Their kids did a grand job against a team that should have torn them apart,” he said.

“Our blokes thought they’d lay down and run through them but that attitude was soon dispelled.

“Nine times out of ten a result reflects how you have built up for a game but we presented ourselves mentally not ready to do the hard work.

“A coach goes grey when you watch stuff like that because you know your side is capable of doing a lot better. We took the points but no solace looking forward to our next match.”

Looking for positives, Stokes signalled out the defensive effort.

“At times our defence was fairly good without being asked too many questions,” he said.

“We did make the tackles that counted the majority of times, which is positive but we have a lot of work to do before the next game.”

Haven opened the scoring following sustained early pressure when Amor powered over from close range after five minutes. Greg McNally converted.

And when full-back Paul Ballard broke free from midfield Haven doubled the advantage with a Calvert try on 10 minutes. McNally converted.

Dominating play, Doncaster hooker Kyle Kesick received a sin bin for a late tackle on Rudd but Haven bizarrely failed to capitalise and a defensive mix up saw Craig Lawton pounce for the hosts on 17 minutes. Josh Weeden slotted over.

On an overcast day, squally showers resulted in numerous handling errors from both sides during a scrappy half.

Haven, however, should have increased the lead following three consecutive sets deep in Doncaster territory approaching the interval.

But the half ended with McDonald seeing red and Haven facing a battle.

Doncaster came out with intent and displayed plenty of spirit in the opening phases but Haven comfortably held firm and increased the lead to boot when Rudd raced through a flat defence on 50 minutes. McNally converted for an 18-6 lead.

Doncaster huffed and puffed but Haven never looked in danger of allowing the hosts back into the match.

Rudd showed a cool head to all but seal victory with a field goal 15 minutes from time. And his kick proved astute as Doncaster dominated possession late on and grabbed a consolation score two minutes from time through Scott McDonald. Weeden failed to convert and Haven held firm.

Sixth placed Sheffield Eagles visit Haven on Sunday before Stokes’ charges travel to league leaders Halifax.

Both clashes will test Haven’s play-off credentials.

Match facts

Doncaster: Griffiths, McDonald, Leaf, Steen, Colton, Handforth, Weeden, Sanchez, Kesick, Benson, Hall, Lawton, McKinley

Tries: Lawton, McDonald

Goals: Weeden 1

Haven: Paul Ballard, Derry Eilbeck, Dexter Miller, Rob Jackson, Craig Calvert, Carl Rudd, Greg McNally, Kyle Amor, Leroy Joe, Karl Edmondson, Spencer Miller, Andy Gorski, Jamie Theoharous

Subs: Graeme Mattinson, Howard Hill, Mark Jackson, Ryan MacDonald

Tries: Amor, Calvert, Rudd

Goals: McNally 3

Drop goal: Rudd

Referee: J Leahy

Attendance: 337

Star Man: Carl Rudd

First published at 15:47, Wednesday, 29 July 2009
Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk