Doncaster 22 Featherstone Rovers 16: Featherstone denied after Cooke provides Doncaster’s inspiration

Rovers were the better side at the start when both teams placed the emphasis on defence but Doncaster took charge to take a six-point lead into the interval.

Mike Emmett went over the line on his back before full-back Dave Scott broke the defensive deadlock with a fine try in the 19th minute.

Emmett was held up near the line before loose forward Jay Pitts latched onto a clever angled kick from scrum-half Scott Spavin to dive over in the 29th minute.

Stewart Sanderson improved both tries to put Doncaster 12-0 in front and they were unlucky not to hold that advantage at the interval.

But Rovers took advantage when Pitts slipped on the rain-soaked surface right on the stroke of half time and Gareth Moore collected the ball to send Ian Hardman racing through for a try which was goaled by Moore.

A penalty from Sanderson increased Doncaster’s lead early in the second half but Featherstone got on top again to hold back the deficit with another try from Hardman after good work by Kyle Briggs.

It looked as if Rovers were in the ascendency when Greg Worthington ghosted inside after collecting a short pass to cross over near the line and put them 16-14 in front in the 64th minute.

But their joy was short-lived when Cooke collected a short pass six minutes later and dummied his way over the line with Sanderson goaling.

Featherstone lost their discipline as they became ragged in their attempts to hit back and Sanderson took advantage when he kicked another penalty just before the end as the home side held out for a deserved victory.

Doncaster: Scott, Morrison, Welham, Leaf, Sanderson, Cooke, Spaven, Spiers, Emmett, Carbutt, Kent, Kelly, Pitts. Substitutes: Robinson, Waterman, Wilkinson, Wilson.

Featherstone: Hardman, Sharp, Worthington, Hellewell, Uaisele, Briggs, Moore, Crossley, Flanagan, James, Lockwood, Spears, Bussey. Substitutes: Kain, Hirst, Bostock, Dale.

Referee: M Thomason (RFL).