Rugby league: Doncaster seal derby spoils from first-ever meeting with Goole

But had the Dons played like they did in the first and last 20 minutes the likelihood is that they would have won by more than 32-16. The Dons finished strongly and ran in three tries after the Vikings, in only their second season in the league, had drawn level at 16-all midway through the second half with an opportunist try by stand-off Shane Touhey who had earlier scored a long-range interception try just after the break.

Skipper Cory Aston put up a kick to the corner for Luke Briscoe which the winger palmed inside for second-rower Luis Johnson, who did likewise to send the half-back over. Connor Robinson added the extras.

Strong-running winger Edene Gebbie, who proved a threat with ball in hand throughout, touched down for a try his earlier efforts deserved, following some snappy handling in the Goole 20.

The try opened up a ten-point lead which always which always looked beyond a Goole side, who defended well but who failed to match the Dons cutting edge in attack.

Alex Sutcliffe, switched from the pack to centre early on due to Brad Hey sustaining a dislocated shoulder, was held up over the line after cutting inside prior to Aston bagging a second try on 71 minutes after wrong-footing a couple of defenders.

The Dons opened the scoring on eight minutes when prop Tyla Hepi, who played despite having had an ear operation three days earlier, raced through a huge gap from ten metres out. Robinson added the extras.

Goole closed the gap to just two points on 16 minutes during their first excursion into the Dons’ 20 when centre Keenan Tomlinson got a hand to a loose ball which the home side failed to deal with.

The Dons hit back with loose-forward Muizz Mustapha leading from the front in the forward exchanges, but several promising-looking raids broke down in the Goole 20 due to handling errors. Briscoe also had a try chalked off having having been judged to have stepped into touch in the act of scoring following good work in the build-up by full-back Tom Holmes.

But there was no doubt about the Dons second try. Holmes outpaced the Goole cover, including full-back Josh Guzdek, one of four former Doncaster players in the visiting side. The Dons opened up a 16-4 interval lead on the stroke of half-time when hooker Connor Jones, who had been tackled just short a few minutes earlier after a long run, sent skipper Aston over from close range for a converted try.

Performance:7/10

Entertainment:7/10

Dons: Holmes, Briscoe, Hey, Glover, Gebbie, Robinson, Aston, Knowles, Burns, Hepi, Sutcliffe, Johnson, Mustapha. Subs: Matagi, McConnell, Baldwinson, Connor Jones.