Match Preview

Doncaster RLFC will make their much anticipated league bow on Sunday afternoon when Whitehaven visit the Keepmoat Stadium - the big game has a 3pm kick-off.

Head coach Tony Miller is hopeful that Mike Burnett and Mick Butterfield will both be fit enough to return to action for the Co-operative Championship One opener. Both players have trained this week and Miller will make his decision after tonight's training session.

New dual signing Kieran Hyde will make his home debut alongside former Wildcats team mate Paul Cooke and Dons' skipper Craig Robinson should play despite suffering a facial injury against Hunslet. Craig Fawcett continues to sit out with a knee injury.

The Dons' Northern Rail Cup campaign ended in disappointment last week at the South Leeds Stadium but the club's focus has always been on the league and they will be looking to secure a top four finish to make a welcome return to the Championship.

Miller said‘Come on you Dons!'

Some good points well made by earlier posts. It's great to see the real season begin.

These are the critical points for me:

1) Keep ball handling errors to a minimum
2) Quick play the balls when we're in possession, and slowing down (legally!) the oppositions play the balls.
3) Discipline - I would guess that a try results around 33% of the time when you give away a penalty. In effect every penalty costs around 2 points.

4) Good tactics - play an expansive game when we're faster in the backs, and play more down the middle when we're bossing this area. I feel Tony Miller is excellent in getting the tactics right.

Hopefully, come Sunday night we'll be reporting back on these things going well, as opposed to badly, and that we've got our first points on the board ... and hope it's not just a bonus point!

I won't mention the impact a ref can have on the game because ultimately a team can only control the controllable, and the ref's performance will never fall into that category!

Good luck to the lads for Sunday!

Very true, Rupert.

I tend not to moan about refs as I think they try to be fair but are human and get things wrong ... but don't we all?!

The thing that annoys me more is the touch judges inability to see forward passes and things that seem to happen under their noses ... but then again, we're always experts at the things other people do ... and without them we wouldn't have a match, so it's down to us as a team to do what we can and let all other things take care of themselves.

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more news www.thestar.co.uk/sport/rugby-league

Handicap Betting from Bet365 ...

Dons -4pts 10/11
Whitehaven +4pts 10/11
The Handicap Draw 16/1

Close call then .

Rubbish, the Dons will blast them!
Whitehaven have done fook all this season, where do they get this crap from?

I think its got something to do with the theory that the 3 Cumbrian teams will get promotion.

I donot agree with that either.

I like your thinking

I can't see all 3 being promoted either ... I just can't see there being enough decent players who wish to ply their trade in Cumbria for a full season.

well it looks like summer rugby may have finally arrived , heres hoping it brings the crowds out,and stand-offish is right, give them a reason to come back

I'm guessing that the weight of early money is for the Dons ...

Revised Handicap Betting from Bet365 ...

Dons -8ts 4/5
Whitehaven +8pts Evens
The Handicap Draw 16/1

all the other bookies now quoting (BetVictor, Skybet & Hills) are giving the Cumbrians a 10 point start.

Ladbrokes prices now available ...

Dons -8pts 10/11
Whitehaven +8pts 10/11
The Handicap Draw 16/1

The Dons are generally 2/7 to win the match.

Well due to the nice weather and lack of being busy I think I'll pop to the game this aft, I think its pretty much perfect conditions for a fast open game, here's hoping the Dons start the season with a bang.