York City Knights 32 Doncaster 16: Lineham's hat-trick helps York to wipe out memories of Keepmoat

But the first 40 minutes had been so different with Doncaster arguably looking to have the edge despite York's territorial dominance.

Indeed, on 15 minutes winger Aaron Henry's lively pace opened the York defence for Robert Lunt to collect and score with Brown adding the extras.

York quickly hit back as Lee Waterman crossed the line and within minutes Danny Ratcliffe and Waterman combined again before a pinpoint pass was hit at pace by Tom Lineham for his first try.

The Dons edged ahead with perhaps the best try of the half. Lunt and Paul Hughes moved the ball down the right-hand side and excellent support play from Shaun Leaf saw the centre score with Simon Brown kicking the conversion.

With two minutes remaining of the half Jack Lee levelled the scores but in a first-half full of incident Ratcliffe stroked over a penalty after the hooter had sounded to give York a two-point lead at the break.

With a strong wind behind them Doncaster's expectations were high in the second half but Ratcliffe's cut-out pass saw Lineham score again and within two minutes Jack Lee dummied before releasing Danny Wilson to score.

Chris Spurr burrowed over the line for a consolation try but with two minutes remaining Ratcliffe's pass saw Lineham complete his hat-trick for the hosts.

York City Knights: Wilson, Tuffour, Mitchell, Waterman, Lineham, Haynes, Ratcliffe, Benson, Lee, Freer, Ross, Duckworth, Hardbottle, Substitutes: Smith, Williams, Clough, Stearman.

Doncaster: Butterfield, Henry, Spurr, Leaf, Wilson, Brown, Fawcett, Ellery, Hughes, Crawley, Watson, Steen, Lunt. Substitutes: Ely, Griffiths, Dobek, Jones.

Referee: T Roby (St Helens).