An opportunity to return to winning ways with the visit of the Crusaders who have just one league win this season, that coming against West Wales Raiders 70-8 on Good Friday.

There has been a suggestion that Matty Beharrell may be available for the game and new signing Watson Boas is another half back option.

Last Season: Doncaster 28 North Wales Crusaders 20 (Sunday 8 April 201icon_cool.gif.

Dons Tries: Brandon Wilkinson, Connor Scott, Jason Tali, Richard Owen, Brad England.
Dons Conversions: Hakim Miloudi 4.

An opportunity to return to winning ways from whinging ways for me.

Needs a solid performance against a decent outfit.

Squad

Matty Beharrell, Watson Boas (Loan), Ryan Boyle, Kieran Buchanan (D/R), Matty Chrimes, Jordan Cox, Brandon Douglas, Brad Foster, Jordie Hedges, Jordan Howden, Kyle Kesik, Callum Ogden, Richard Owen, Connor Scott, Russ Spiers, Jason Tali, Jordan Thompson (D/R), Brandan Wilkinson, Menzie Yere (Loan).

Jordan thompson is a second row/loose forward

Good to see Brandan named in there. Welcome back to the squad young man.

Yes good to have him back, been a long injury for him.

Trying to put together a 17, my best guess sees Ogden and Wilkinson not making it.

Where does Howden fit in ?

I think it could be Howden & Foster .

I agree.

Howden is the obvious one to drop for me
Of the back row options Cox gives us an offload game Jordie has been playing well, Thompson should be a class above at this level if he is who I am thinking of, and we will want Wilkinson on the bench to bring him back so foster makes the most sense to drop.

Ogden to maintain his place to give Kes a breather unless Hedges is intended for this in which case Foster stays.

I assumed Beryl and Howden at 6/7. We don’t have many options for backs so would be brave to not have one on the bench whether it’s Howden or Boas.

I’d like to see Wilkinson get some game time, thought he might have had a run out with Hull reserves first

Either way, the fact we all have different ideas shows we have options, which has to be a good thing

My feeling is we've named 3 halves in case Matty isn't fit. May be wrong. Rich Owen is nailed on for wing if available. If not Tali to wing maybe? Forwards. It's a straight choice between Foster and Wilkinson depending on fitness. Wed agree strong squad?

In summary. Either Howden or Ogden for 1 spot. Foster or Wilkinson for other.

I'd start Beryl and Howden together.
And if things are going OK bring Boas on for Beryl to see what he's like.
I am not impressed by Howden of late without Beryl, he was crap against Keighley, but we need some continuity.
Beryl and Howden is that.

Goodness knows where Boas plays if Beryl is fully fit.
I'd stick him on the wing.

It's hard to work out what the final 17 might be as there are a few conundrums among the combinations.

I can't see Watson Boas not being in the team so he either has to start or be on the bench.

Jordan Thompson will be a starter so that fills one of the three second row/loose positions.

It's then two from Wilkinson, Jordan Cox, and Brad Foster.

Who covers at hooker? We can't have Ogden, Howden and Jordie on the bench so at least one would have to miss out. If we have Ogden and Jordie as subs (with two props) we've no second row back up and no cover in the wider backs.

Looks like Buchanan will be at full-back with Richard Owen on the wing, with Matty Chrimes. Yere and Tali will be in the centres.

I'd guess Jordan Howden and Brad Foster will miss out as Brandan Wilkinson and Watson Boas will be selected ahead of them.

Well if Beryl is fully fit you can't go sticking Boas in his place for risk of upsetting possibly the best scrum half in the division.
He may not be fully fit, but is Boas?
Boas is not a stand off, he is a scrum half, he is not rangy enough.
So what is he here for? ... back up if Beryl is injured or he plays elsewhere, but not standoff.
We only have one standoff and to drop him for a loanee is a bit rich.

Beryl and Howden works.
Harris and Howden not so good.
Beryl and Boas???
I say don't tinker with a proven pairing.

I know what you're saying S/O but why would Richard Horne bring in Watson Boas if he wasn't going to play him? I can't imagine we've brought Boas in just as a back up player. Beryl can't be left out (if fit) as he's our key player. I'm just trying to work out what Richard Horne's thinking is on this one.

As a further line of thought, where does this leave Liam Harris with regards to future call ups from Hull? It looks like he's dropped down the pecking order. Perhaps we're going to play Boas in the next two games so Richard Horne can get his thoughts sorted on who is the best half-back pairing for the more difficult challenges coming up in June?

I think they got Boas because he became available at a time when Beryl was injured and his future not certain and the Dons were at risk because of it.
So if Beryl is fit .. we don't need Boas.
Like I said I would play him as a sub to see what he can do and since he is here try to fit him in somewhere.
But Beryl and Howden must not be broken up ... just yet.
It would be nice to have a better standoff, but Howden is fine on his day with Beryl.

I'd agree. Boas off the bench means no interchange hooker. I'd have him and Jordie Hedges on bench and two props. With the probable starters we can spell the pack well with that. Jordie has made himself invaluable for me with his utility value. Can slot in during game anywhere bar prop.

My pick. Buchanan, Owen, Yere, Tali, Chrimes, Howden, Beharrell, Douglas, Kesik, Boyle, Cox, Foster, Thompson. Bench: Boas, Hedges, Scott, Spiers.

Probably totally wrong.

I think Jordie would fancy himself as a prop too! He seemed to be lacking in self-belief in his early days with us but he's come on in leaps and bounds over the last two years.

He epitomises much of what I love about rugby: great commitment from the players giving 100% at all times.

He's evolved into his best playing position.
Not really a fullback which he was in a previous life and not really a halfback which he was for us at the start.
But as a chunky mobile player in the thick of the rough stuff he is bang on.

Very useful player. Seems to love playing which is always a positive.

In all honesty one of my favourite players.

This is why I think we don't need a backrower On the bench.

Was thinking that I haven't walked out for quite some time ... so that means I have never seen a performance in a while when I thought we had let our heads drop.
Not that I expect this any time soon.
So things are good as regards team spirit.
And win or lose I can hack that.
It won't stop me spitting my dummy out occasionally.
Take Keighley, it wasn't lack of effort but nous that got my goat.
Same as Hunslet, both games should have been wins.
And so, although not RH's best fan, he has achieved that team ethos.
So credit to him.

Dons -12 10/11 with Skybet.