Doncaster RLFC 48 University of Gloucestershire 22: Four-try Cross steers Dons through to fifth round

Just two points separated the two sides at the start of the final quarter but the Dons finished the stronger side and ran in three unanswered tries to secure their place in Tuesday’s draw where three of last season’s bottom four Super League sides plus promoted Leigh enter the competition.

Utility man Keiran Cross (pictured), standing in for the suspended Jordie Hedges at scrum-half in a makeshift half-back partnership with Jack Miller, played a starring role for Dons scoring four tries and having a hand in several others.

Two of the half-back’s tries came in the late on with his hat-trick try perhaps being the pick of them. Louis Sheriff, standing in for the injured Tom Carr at full-back, also caught the eye with a well-taken hat-trick.

Centre Liam Welham, who scored the club’s first and last tries, bagged a brace.

Cross added a second converted try on the half-hour to extend the Dons lead to 12-4 after the All Golds had opened their account with an unconverted try. The former Doncaster Toll Bar amateur then turned provider to send Sheriff over three minutes later to give the Dons an 18-6 lead.

But their League One rivals hit back with a couple of tries of their own and only trailed by two points at the break.

There was little between the sides in the third quarter until Sheriff weighed in with a long-range try, which Miller again converted, to give the Dons a bit of extra breathing space. But the battling visitors hit back and the game remained in the balance until the last ten minutes or so.