Doncaster show promise during opening victory over Scorpions

They began in impressive style and could have had at least three tries before Dean Colton opened the scoring in the 13th minute.

Half-backs Scott Spaven and Craig Fawcett controlled the game for Doncaster and it was completely one-sided for the first half hour.

Spaven chalked up half the Dons’ points with two tries and six goals with his first touchdown coming in the 16th minute.

He followed up with a tremendous run down the left wing three minutes later and dummied the full-back before racing over near the posts.

Second row Ryan Steen made it four tries in 12 minutes for dominant Doncaster when he sliced through the shoddy visitors’ defence in the 25th minute with Spaven adding the points.

But the home side could not maintain the momentum and allowed South Wales a try when they lost concentration in defence with Steve Parry taking full advantage in the 37th minute leaving Doncaster 24-6 ahead at half-time.

The second half was more even as Doncaster failed to emphasise their superiority.

Excellent full-back Mick Butterfield increased the lead with a 50th minute try but the Welsh men hit back with a solo effort from Robin Lock before Doncaster asserted themselves again with tries from Chris Green and Colton in the closing stages.

Doncaster RL: Butterfield, Colton, Leaf, Morrison, Sanderson, Fawcett, Spaven, Carbutt, Ely, Scott, Robinson, Steen, Emmett. Unused Substitutes: Kesik, C Hughes, Sampson, Green.

South Wales Scorpions: Reece, Lock, Roets, Bateman, Cunningham, Gay, Bromilow, H Davies, Parry, Dallimore, Wildbore, Lloyd, James. Substitutes: Carter, Burke, Cocker, C Davies.

Referee: M Kidd (RFL).

n Whitehaven RLFC recorded a 30-22 victory at home to Rochdale Hornets in their opening league game.

Whitehaven looked to be in complete control of the game as they ran in six unanswered tries to gain a commanding 30-0 lead with under 20 minutes remaining in the game.

But a resurgent Rochdale saw them respond with four tries of their own in the space of 10 minutes to bring them back within eight points, but the Hornets couldn’t respond.

Oldham Roughyeds got their campaign off to a winning start after trouncing Gateshead Thunder 66-12.

Oldham ran in five unanswered tries in the first half including doubles from Mark Brocklehurst and Andy Isherwood to take a comfortable 30-0 half-time lead. Seven more tries followed after the break, including two more from Brocklehurst and a third for Isherwood.