York found champions elect, Doncaster Phoenix, in dominant form on Saturday and despite competing with and matching their hosts at times, were vanquished 51-14.

Electing to play with the strong right to left wind, York set off in determined manner and applied early pressure to Donny and when a ball was spilled in open play, Chris Fox gathered and broke 30m towards the line. Tackled short, the ball was fed inside for young prop Sam Blain to crash over for his debut try, George Davis converted, 7-0. York continued to apply pressure and force errors but an overthrow at a York lineout gave possession away, from which Donny moved the ball swiftly wide to centre Hankinson, who was stopped just short, only for fellow centre Ellis to pick and drive over, 7-5.

Back came York and a good tackle by Sam Arkle provided loose ball which the lively Josh Britland hacked on to the line earning a 5m attacking scrum. From here York drove for the line but there was to be no repeat of glory for Sam Blain, as he received a huge tackle from which Phoenix cleared to touch. York earned a penalty from here but Davis was wide from 30m out. At this stage York were containing the large Donny forwards and play centred around the halfway but slowly the home side turned the screw and following field position set up by the backs, their forwards set up a driving maul for the line ultimately illegally halted by York, with captain Fox receiving the yellow. From there, Donny were able to crash over in the corner, 10-7.

Straight from the kick off Phoenix prop Bagnall broke through midfield and fed supporting backs before receiving the scoring pass himself, to score under the posts, 17-7. Shortly after a period of York attack in the home 20m, the Donny backs broke down one wing before switching play to the opposite side where Bagnell dived in for his second, again unconverted, 22-7. Only great cover defence prevented another score in the corner before the referee blew for half time.

Restored to action, Fox's first act of the second half was to scoop up another dropped ball and gallop his way to the try line for his first of the season, with Davis converting magnificently from wide out, 22-14. From here on, Phoenix put on a master class and took advantage of a brave but tiring defence as their backs continued to move the ball well through hands, providing a further 4 tries with the final result 51-14.

This was by far, the best side faced by York in recent years and it would be hard to believe they won't progress through NE1 next season as well. There can really be no criticism of York, despite the score as the spirit and effort was unending for the whole game. Doncaster's vote for York man of match went appropriately, in a side described by Sean as' down to our bare bones', to old 'skeletor' himself, Andy Kay.

Thanks to the referee for a decent game, even under the disappointing barrage of calls for penalties and yellow cards, every time York touched the ball, from the home crowd.