Gateshead Thunder 22 Doncaster 40: Butterfield’s two tries send Doncaster on way to Thunder win

Full-back Mike Butterfield scored two tries in three minutes as the Dons ran in five first-half tries to lead by 22 points,

In a low key opening 40 minutes Tony Miller’s side did not need to get close to top gear but they had to work hard after the break as Gateshead hit back.

Craig Fawcett hit the line in the visitors’ first set of six and then Chris Spurr exploited weak defence after Thunder had scored through winger Ash Thackeray.

Tom Hodson sprinted clear from halfway and after Butterfield’s quickfire brace Thackeray scored his second of the game on the hooter.

The Dons had a scare after the break when Thackeray completed his hat-trick and then Paul Stamp dummied over.

The next try was pivotal and it went to the Dons when hooker Kyle Kesick wriggled out of a tackle to hit the line unchallenged.

Hodgson won the race to a high kick following a scrum to put the game to bed before Connor Condron scored Gateshead’s fifth try of the afternoon.

It had been a scrappy 80 minutes with Miller far happier with the first-half display as the Dons made it four wins from five in Co-op Championship One.

Gateshead: Condron, Thackery, Mitchell, Stoker, Brown, Walsh, Beasley, McBride, Clarke, Waller, Barker, Steen, Payne. Substitutes: Stamp, Cakacaka, Welton, O’Sullivan.

Doncaster: Butterfield, Colton, Spurr, Waterman, Hodgson, Cooke, Fawcett, Castle, Kesik, O’Laughlin, Kelly, Lawton, Edwards. Substitutes: Powley, Welsh, Spires, Hyde.

Referee: R Laughton (Barnsley).

Championship One leaders Workington Town crossed for 11 tries as they strolled to a 58-0 victory over North Wales Crusaders.

Brett Carter, Elliott Miller and Dave Paterson went over for a brace of tries apiece, while there were also touchdowns for Jarrad Stack, Marc Bainbridge, Marc Shackley, Stephen Dawes and Jason Mossop.

Carl Forber kicked six goals and Bainbridge one to leave Crusaders struggling at the wrong end of the table.