Catalans 62-6 Doncaster: Sam Tomkins injury mars Challenge Cup win

Sam Tomkins was forced off with an injury in the win over Doncaster

A potentially serious injury to Sam Tomkins marred Coral Challenge Cup holders Catalans Dragons' win over Doncaster as they cruised into the quarter-finals.

Tomkins left the field before the half-hour mark as the club defeated their plucky South Yorkshire opponents 62-6.

Catalans resisted the temptation to rest players against League One side Doncaster as they picked a strong team to start their defence of the trophy they won last August.

That paid dividends in the eighth minute when Brayden Wiliame opened the scoring down the left edge following Tomkins' grubber, with the latter converting.

Doncaster responded by applying pressure on the Catalans line, Jordan Howden putting in a kick and Connor Bower out-jumping the Dragons defence to touch down. Matty Beharrell converted to level the scores.

Brayden Wiliame scored four tries for Catalans against Doncaster

Matt Whitley scored short of the half hour from Lucas Albert's kick through to put the Dragons back in front, and as Tomkins left the field Tony Gigot took over the kicking duties and added the conversion to give the hosts a 12-6 lead.

With time running down, Jason Baitieri added a try from short range, diving over from acting half to extend the Catalans lead, Gigot's goal making it 18-6 at the break.

Whitley added his second try of the game three minutes into the second half, a smart shift to the left edge giving Whitley space to go over, with Gigot converting to take the score to 24-6.

David Mead further extended the Catalans' lead three minutes later as Julian Bousquet broke through the Doncaster defence and offloaded to him. Gigot again converted as the Catalans reached 30 points.

Catalans were running riot, going on to score four tries in a nine-minute period. Kenny Edwards, Wiliame, Fouad Yaha and Gigot all went over before the hour as the Catalans moved the score to 48-6.

The home side continued to score freely after the hour, Wiliame completing his hat-trick in the 66th minute to bring up the half-century following a set-play directly from the scrum. Gigot added the conversion to take the score to 54-6.

Wiliame added his fourth three minutes later, pouncing on an Edwards kick through before Yaha scored his second try of the game with seven minutes remaining. Gigot missed both conversions to leave the score at 62-6.

Catalans were trying to score at every opportunity, but resilient defence from Doncaster kept them at bay