Rugby expert Steve Hossack’s look backs at some of the most talented players to represent the Dons in the last half a century

Doncaster RLFC’s Sam Smeaton will kick-off his well-deserved testimonial season with a fund-raising dinner at the Club Doncaster Stadium later this month.

Smeaton, who joined the club in 2020 having played a handful of games on loan from Batley, is both the longest-serving player on the club’s books and the only one to be born in the city as has been the case for several years.

Sam Smeaton is among those to feature in Steve Hossack’s Dons dream team. | Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com.

placeholder image — Sam Smeaton is among those to feature in Steve Hossack’s Dons dream team. | Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com.

Smeaton started his rugby career playing for Toll Bar juniors but was forced to look elsewhere (Featherstone Lions) when the club didn’t have an age-group team for him. His potential was spotted by Featherstone Rovers. He then went on to play for the likes of Halifax and Batley prior to joining the Dons in 2020.

Toll Bar have also produced the likes of hooker Peter Green, who both captained the Dons and was head coach for a while following the departure of Gary Thornton and the arrival of current head coach Richard Horne. Younger brother Wayne also spent several seasons at the club.

Second-rower Craig Lawton was another Toll Bar junior to go on to captain the Dons while winger Dean Colton capped an impressive career which saw him play for both Featherstone and the Dons, when being selected for Scotland in the World Cup.

Goal-kicking utility-back Johnny Woodcock, who played for the club during Ian St John Ellis’s time in charge, was another to came through the ranks at Toll Bar.

Bentley, Askern, Rossington Hornets, Moorends and Upton have also provided players who have worn the blue and gold colours of the Dons with distinction over the years though the production line has almost ground to a halt during Smeaton’s time at the Dons.

Bentley Yarborough, as Bentley were known for many years, produced such as strong-running centre turned second-rower Audley Pennant and younger brother Milton, utility man John Evans and forwards Tony Atter and Dale Barrett.

Askern supplied a handful of top forwards in the 80s with fans’ favourite Kevin Parkhouse - a ball-playing forward who played fly-half for Adwick RUFC at one stage prior to signing - arguably making the biggest impact.

Hooker Mark Gibbon signed around the same time with young second-rower Alan Carr following.

Rossington Hornets, like Askern, sadly folded many years ago, but will always be associated with stand-off Mick Smith.

Smith enjoyed a stellar career with Featherstone Rovers, which included scoring a try in the 1972-73 Challenge Cup win over Bradford at Wembley which featured on the credits of long-running BBC’s Saturday afternoon Grandstand for several years.

Record-breaking centre-winger Mark Roache and prop Ian Fletcher were both snapped up by Castleford but both went on to feature prominently in the Dons rise to the top flight in the early-mid 90s.

Half-back Tony Chappell and hard-working hooker Howard Roberts both hailed from the Moorends club as did several other players, including winger Roy Rafferty who spent most of his career at Sheffield Eagles.

Wheatley Hills RUFC, who boasted several other players who would have made it in the 13-a-side game had they followed his path, was where winger Neil Turner first made his name.

I remember recommending to team manager John Sheridan, as I did with Evans, and he went on to set a new club try-scoring record which helped him earn a big-money move to Hull FC.

Prop Andy Clark also starred for Wheatley Hills earlier in his rugby career. Castleford spotted his potential and made his mark at the West Yorkshire club before joining the Dons in the late 80s.

Winger/full-back Dave Bell was signed from the Upton club. He impressed during his one full season at the club in the mid-80s.

Having reported on the club since the late 70s, I have listed what I consider to be the best side made up of local players from 1980 onwards. Hopefully, I’ve not left anyone out who supporters will feel deserved to be in the team. Certainly, several players were unlucky to miss out.

There was fierce competition in several positions including wing, hooker and prop forward. In contrast, I was struggling for a half-back partnership and was forced to pick Evans alongside Chappell.

Dons: Johnny Woodcock, Neil Turner, Audley Pennant, Mark Roache, Dean Colton, Johnny Evans, Tony Chappell, Kevin Parkhouse, Peter Green, Ian Fletcher, Craig Lawton, Sam Smeaton, David Noble. Subs: Andy Clark, Gavin Morgan, Mike Kelly, Dave Bell.