Ryan Gould at The Glyndwr University Racecourse Stadium

NORTH WALES CRUSADERS are in the hat for the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup fourth round draw after hammering Championship outfit 40-12.

Doncaster’s ill discipline and poor completion didn’t help the visitors but, equally, Crusaders were faultless throughout and took full advantage of that.

After holding an impressive 18-6 lead at the break, Cruasders’ performance in the second period was even better as they put Doncaster to the sword.

The visitors took the lead through Jack Walton, breaking through a gap to touch down, but Crusaders hit back and dominated the rest of the half.

Alex Thompson was sent over the line by Tommy Johnson, before Stuart Reardon did well to collect Craig White’s high kick to the corner and finish in the corner.

Then, Stephen Wild came up with a great offload out of the back of the tackle for Tommy Johnson to dive over for Crusaders’ third of the afternoon.

Doncaster started the second-half the better of the two sides as Jack Walton showed good strength to force his way over the line for his second try.

But the response from Crusaders was an immediate one. Gary Middlehurst picked up the ball on the left wing and, with little space down that flank, he put in a neat grubber kick for Rob Massam to pounce on.

Crusaders should have built on their lead when Gary Middlehurst was sent racing away by Tommy Johnson, but he knocked-on as he went to put the ball down.

The hosts didn’t make the same mistake a minute later, though, as Rob Massam collected an error in midfield by the Dons and raced clear to grab his second.

His third came as a result of another Dons error; Dallimore’s high kick caught Westerman off guard and Massam picked up the pieces to cross for a simple effort.

And Massam completed his scoring for the day just moments later, combining with Middlehurst once more; this time, a looping pass saw him over in the left corner.

Doncaster threw everything at Crusaders in the closing stages to try and pull some points back, but the Welsh side’s outstanding defence epitomised their overall performance across the 80 minutes.

NORTH WALES CRUSADERS
Tommy Johnson
Rob Massam
Christiaan Roets
Alex Thompson
Stuart Reardon
Craig White
Jamie Dallimore
Joe Burke
Karl Ashall
Jonny Walker
Jono Smith
Stephen Wild
Gary Middlehurst
Subs:
Callum Wright
Elliot Davies
Mark Hobson
Ryan Duffy

Tries: Thompson (15), Reardon (28), Johnson (35), Massam (49, 58, 62, 65)
Goals: Johnson (5/7)

DONCASTER
Lee Waterman
Dave Scott
Liam Welham
Shaun Leaf
Mitch Vincent
Paul Cooke
Rich Wilkinson
Craig Robinson
Kyle Kesik
Brett Waller
Jack Walton
Steve Snitch
Mike Emmett
Subs:
Ryan Wilson
Mike Kelly
Mitch Clark
Matt Carbutt

Tries: Walton (10, 45)
Goals: Scott (2/2)

Referee: Warren Turley
HT: 18-6
Attendance: 416