A place in the Championship for 2023 was up for grabs as Doncaster travelled to Heywood Road insouth Manchester to take on a Swinton Lions side who were looking to bounce back at the first time of asking and join the Keighley Cougars in next season’s second tier.

Swinton won comfortably in the play off semi-finals a fortnight ago when they ran out as 32-12 winners with both sides having won a game each in the regular season games, Doncaster by 26-12 at Swinton and Swinton by 64-22 in a high scoring round three encounter at the Eco-Power Stadium.

The Lions were big favourites for the win and promotion, but Doncaster came into the game on the back of a big win against the Rochdale Hornets last weekend and full of hope that they would be the ones celebrating at the end of eighty minutes.

A place in the Betfred Championship awaited the winners of the League One play-off game between Workington Town and Doncaster as the two sides battled it out to join the Barrow Raiders in promotion after reaching the end of season crunch match.

Doncaster won both encounters between the two sides in 2021 including a 26-24 win the last time that they visited Derwent Park at the end of May.

Workington Town, who finished the regular season as runners up to their near neighbours, were slight (-2) favourites with the bookies they entered the arena for this ‘all or nothing’ encounter after both clubs had scares in their semi-finals.

When these two sides met in the play-offs a fortnight ago, Doncaster took the spoils with a 20-6 away win at the Newcastle Thunder.

Today the prize was much higher, a game against Oldham next weekend to determine who would be joining Whitehaven in the Betfred Championship in 2020.

Doncaster were placed behind Newcastle in the regular season, hence the need for a drive up the A1, but with games between the two sides during the regular season being close affairs, it was difficult to pick a favourite from todays clash.

Newcastle made a handful of changes, with Doncaster also making a couple of switches to their line-up.

Newcastle were slight favourites with the bookies based on home advantage but Doncaster arrived determined to book themselves a trip to Oldham next weekend.

With Whitehaven already promoted to the Betfred Championship for 2020 it was time to find out who would be joining them to replace the relegated Rochdale and Barrow.

Fourth placed Doncaster were up against third placed Newcastle for the chance to travel to Oldham next weekend to secure a place in the League One play off final.

Both encounters between these two sides during the regular league season were close affairs with honours shared with one win apiece.

The margins were just six points and a single drop goal so there was plenty of promise of a close game.

Oldham had their eyes set on second spot as they travelled to Doncaster to take on the side sat in seventh place, who themselves needed a win to keep in touch with the sides above them.

These two sides did battle last weekend in the second round of the 1895 Cup with Doncaster progressing to the quarter finals thanks to a 24-12 victory, Oldham were now keen on revenge and the two crucial league points.

The opening fixture of the Betfred Championship One season saw Doncaster head north to take on Newcastle Thunder in the first of a double-header which would later see the Toronto Wolfpack host the Widnes Vikings in a third round Championship fixture at the Kingston Park Stadium.

ExHull FC favourite Richard Horne was coaching a Doncaster side with a number of dual registered players with his old Black & Whites side, to take on Jason Payne’s promotion hopefulls whose side was sprinkled full of players with higher league experience.

Excellent conditions and a 4G pitch would ensure that there were no weather or pitch excuses for anything other than a top game.

It was second against third as two of the sides with a one hundred percent Kingstone Press Championship One record met at a sunny Keepmoat Stadium.

With Barrow winning last night a win was required by both sides to draw back level top.



Doncaster have made great start to the 2017 season and with a team containing a number of players with Super League experience they have their eyes on a Championship spot next season.

The Wolfpack welcomed back Moimoi after a three game suspension, but were without new signing Ryan Bailey who was signed too late to make his debut.