REPORT | Doncaster RLFC 36 York RLFC Knights 20

Doncaster RLFC got off to a winning start in their return to the Betfred Championship on Sunday afternoon, beating York Knights 36-20 in a fantastic display at the Eco-Power Stadium.

Off-season signings Craig Hall, Luke Briscoe, Reece Lyne, Suaia Matagi, Alex Sutcliffe, Tyla Hepi and Pauli Pauli were all included in Richard Horne's matchday 17. After a bruising opening 16 minutes with both teams playing some impressive rugby, it was the Dons who opened the scoring. 

Winger Tom Halliday was on hand to receive a neat ball from Hall, who split the York defence on the back of an elusive shift play. Connor Robinson nailed the conversion from the touchline, handing the hosts a 6-0 lead. That would double in the following set as the Dons went back-to-back. Ben Johnston's towering kick was spilt by AJ Towse, before the halfback collected the loose ball to score under the sticks. A fantastic start by the Blue and Yellows, who thoroughly deserved the two-score advantage. 

Defensively, the Dons were standing firm. Halliday and Robinson both produced solo efforts to bundle York into touch. However, the away side would get over for two late tries just before the half-time hooter. Former Leeds Rhinos star Richie Myler slung a bomb into the air, which wasn't dealt with before Jack Teanby pounced on the bouncing ball. AJ Towse also crossed the whitewash for Andrew Henderson's men, going over in the corner. 

Nikau Williams landed one of two with the boot, so the Dons held a slender 12-10 lead heading into the sheds after an entering start to life back in the second tier. 

It was a perfect start to the second half for the Dons. Craig Hall's restart was dropped by ex-Hull KR man Jimmy Keinhorst, which put the hosts in good ball. Enforcer Pauli Pauli was on hand to barge over from close range against his former side, extending the lead and making an immediate impact off the bench. 

After forcing an error early in the set, Doncaster again found themselves in a try-scoring area. The Dons would go over again as Halliday bagged his brace. Similar to his first, Craig Hall was the provider, but the speedster had plenty of work to do, jinking back in-field and beating four York defenders to crash over. 

In dreamland, where every attacking play was coming off, Doncaster got their fifth of the afternoon through skipper Sam Smeaton. The captain was first to react to a knock-on from York after Craig Hall's boot caused havoc, sending the home fans into a frenzy. 28-10 up, a penalty in front of the sticks was slotted over by Robinson, a four-score lead heading into the final quarter. 

York would get consolation tries through Josh Daley and Tom Lineham before the final whistle, but the afternoon belonged to Doncaster, who are up and running in the Championship. Pauli Pauli put the icing on the cake, crashing over for his second on the hooter, rounding off a brilliant afternoon. Up next, a South Yorkshire derby against Sheffield Eagles on Good Friday. 

Doncaster RLFC

Craig Hall, Luke Briscoe, Reece Lyne, Brad Hay, Tom Halliday, Ben Johnston, Connor Robinson, Brad Knowles, Greg Burns, Suaia Matagi, Alex Sutcliffe, Sam Smeaton, Loui McConnell

Subs: Watson Boas, Brett Ferres, Tyla Hepi, Pauli Pauli 

Tries: Halliday (2), Johnston, Pauli (2), Smeaton

Conversions: Robinson 6/7

York Knights

Joe Brown, Tom Lineham, Myles Harrison, Jimmy Keinhorst, AJ Towse, Nikau Williams, Richie Myler, Ukuma Tai, Will Jubb, Conor Fitzsimmons, Oliver Field, Connor Bailey, Tom Nicholson-Watton

Subs: Ata Higano, Josh Daley, Rohan Michael, Jack Teanby

Tries: Teanby, Towse, Daley, Lineham

Conversions: Williams 2/4