Whitehaven 41 Doncaster 16: Star names unable to elevate ailing Dons

The duo scored on debut for Paul Cooke’s side as they sought a maiden victory against opponents who only previously had one win themselves.

However, the South Yorkshire side were comprehensively beaten as they endured an eighth successive league defeat.

Doncaster got off to the worst possible start, knocking on from the kick-off and Whitehaven took full advantage of the field position when Jessie Joe Parker sent winger Craig Calvert over in the corner, with John-Paul Brocklebank adding the conversion.

The hosts extended their lead inside 10 minutes, Steven Bannister provided a great offload to Ed Chamberlain on the overlap on dual-registration from Widnes and he weaved his way under the posts, with Brocklebank knocking over the extra two points.

Danny Nicklas gave Doncaster hope when he went over from dummy half and Dave Scott added the goal from touch.

But they would not score again before the break. Instead, Tyla Hepi and Scott McAvoy added converted tries to make it 24-6.

James Newton added another soon after the restart but the visitors rallied as both Fox and Reynolds scored, Dave Scott converting the latter. But Chamberlain added his second try, Brocklebank kicking a drop goal, before Craig Calvert rounded things off.

Whitehaven: Lepori; Chamberlain, Joe Parker, Bannister, Calvert; Aiye, Brocklebank; Davies, Coyle, Chapplehow, Lloyd L, McAvoy, Allen. Substitutes: Hepi, Brooks, Newton, Fox.

Doncaster: Scott; Doherty, Welham, Waterman, Fox; Cooke, Nicklas; Carbutt, Kesik, Tyson-Wilson, Turgut, Snitch, Emmett. Substitutes: Reynolds, Dunn, Clark, Waller.

Referee: WTurley (RFL).