Doncaster v Salford.

Sometimes in Rugby League things get jettisoned far to easily. These days cup competitions are pretty sparse in the sport. You’ve got the League competition, the Challenge Cup and for the clubs outside the Top flight the 1895 cup. Gone are the days of the County Cups, Premiership, John Player, Floodlit cup and for readers of a certain vintage the Captain Morgan Trophy! One competition I thought should have stayed was the Treize Tournoi. This was a competition held at the end of the 1998 season with three French teams and three English teams. Lancashire Lynx got to the final and were beaten 16-10 by Villeneuve in front of a terrific crowd of over 10,000 in Toulouse. Former Catalans coach Laurent Frayssinous scored a try that day and former Australian test back rower Paul Sironen played alongside side him for Villeneuve. I know I am digressing a little it but I think Cup competitions are the key to making our sport more interesting, entertaining and lucrative. The 1895 Cup is a competition I’ve enjoyed watching over the past few years. The six finals so far have all been played alongside the Challenge Cup final at Wembley apart from the 2022 final which was played at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. This season the Final isn’t being played at Wembley and at the moment I don’t think the location and date of the final has even been announced which is pretty disappointing. This will be Salford’s first appearance in the competition and a trip to face Doncaster looks a pretty daunting prospect on current form. When the two sides met a month or so ago a 78-8 defeat really showed how difficult this season is going to be for Salford as a club that’s rebuilding a team. Richard Horne’s Doncaster side have started 2026 with seven wins from eight League games. Their only loss so far was a 26-24 defeat away to Midlands Hurricanes.

Previous meetings in Cup competitions.

Doncaster 1

Draws 0

Salford 3

2008 Salford 60 Doncaster 0. Rail Cup Final, Bloomfield Road, Blackpool.

1986 Doncaster 18 Salford 12. Challenge Cup round one.

1983 Doncaster 11 Salford 22. John Player Trophy round one.

1973 Salford 47 Doncaster 17. John Player Trophy round one.

They played for both.

Richie Barnett, Ian Bragger, Luke Burgess, Rangi Chase, Peter Edwards, Brad Hepi, Graham Holroyd, Stuart Howarth, Neil Lowe, Mick McTigue, Paul Mansson, Martin Moana, Levy NZoungou, Iafeta Palea’aesina, Pauli Pauli, Jansin Turgut, Ian Watson, Chris Whiteley, Fata Sini. 

A match to remember  Sunday 6th November 1983

John player trophy round one, Doncaster 11 Salford 22.

After glory in the mid 1970s by the early 1980s Salford were going through a tough time. The side was now starting to be built around a core of exciting young players. Steve Nash was now in the twilight of his long career but still a big influence in the team. Mike Coulman had just retired from playing and was now the Coach. 

In the league Salford really struggled. Youngster Ged Byrne was a really shining light scoring eighteen tries but with just five wins from thirty matches and two of those wins came against bottom side Whitehaven, Salford were relegated to the second division.

This cup tie at Doncaster was probably the highlight of a dismal season. Paul Shuttleworth a very promising youngster signed from Dewsbury he scored two tries in the win at Tattersfield. Ronnie Smith kicked three goals and Salford’s other tries came from Stewart Williams and John Wood.

 Salford drew Wigan away in the second round at Central Park. Once again they parked their poor league form to really trouble Alex Murphy’s side. Colin Whitfield and David Stephenson who had both been sold to Wigan from Salford came back to haunt their old club. Wigan beat Salford 24-15 to go through to the quarter finals. 

Looking back now over forty years later, Salford could of been the team of the 1980s if they could of held on to players like Colin Whitfield, David Stephenson, Paul O’Neill, Paul Fletcher and Ged Byrne to name a few.

The teams that day, 

Doncaster, Tyers, Williams, Salmon, Wilkes, Smith, Buckton, Russell, Douglas, Knott, Ellis, Masson, Marshall, Noble.

Subs, Atherton.

Salford, Shuttleworth, Bentley, Byrne, Williams, Maggs, Glynn, Nash, Wood, Groves, Boyd, Turnbull, Smith, Dickens.

Subs, Fletcher, Henney.

Attendance, 458

Referee, John Mean.

Saturday’s match.

With the loan players returning to their respective parent clubs this week after a superb victory over Batley last Sunday a lot will depend on who Dave Hewitt has available. Joe Hartley is struggling with injury and Matty Ross is out for what looks like the rest of the season as he needs surgery. Salford’s pack is looking a lot stronger now than the last meeting with Doncaster but the pace and power the Dons poses on the edges has made them one of the front runners in the Championship in 2026. 

One player who’s started to find his feet is young winger Keane Gilford. After signing from Thatto Heath Gilford has now got three games under his belt and scored his first try for Salford last Sunday. Ollie Garmston impressed again playing centre against Batley. He’s always looking to off load the ball in the tackle and has linked up well in attacking positions. I thought Toby Hughes had his best game of the season so far last Sunday. Playing as a running six rather than an organiser at scrum half Hughes seemed to play with a lot more confidence and freedom. He also had Leon Hayes alongside him which was a very good partnership. Sadly though it looks like Hayes will be joining Widnes on loan in the not too distant future. 

This will no doubt be another enjoyable away trip. It’s a break from the League but I’ve no doubt Doncaster will be taking this competition very seriously. I think most Salford supporters will be looking for a vast improvement from the last meeting and as always the result will look after itself.

The action gets under way at 3pm

Safe travels and enjoy the game.

Paul Whiteside. 

Big thanks to Steve McCormick for the photos and the Salford match day programme.