League One coach taking positives from pre-season loss

League One Doncaster played Championship side York City Knights in both team’s first hit-out of the new year and despite the loss Doncaster boss, Richard Horne, claims there’s plenty to be taken from the the 28-12 loss.

Doncaster pushed hard for promotion in 2022 as they placed fourth in League One before losing in the playoff final against Swinton Lions, and that drive to reach the Championship hasn’t ended in 2022.

The signing of former Super League stalwart, Brett Ferres, highlighted the intent that Doncaster have going forward this season, as has their decision to play pre-season games against higher tier opposition.

York were just the first Championship side that Horne’s men will play in the build-up to their season getting underway with other opponent’s set to include Newcastle Thunder and Sheffield Eagles.

Against York they went down 28-12 having led at half-time but the Championship side, with their new coaching tandem of Andrew Henderson and Ged Corcoran, took control in the second-half.

Horne told his club’s website: “We started a little slowly and didn’t touch the ball too many times early on but once we altered things slightly we got back into the game.

“We finished the first 40 well but we’re a little bit disappointed with our intensity levels after the break which let them run away with it a little bit.

“We got through the game unscathed so that is another box ticked, we’ll look to get them all ready now for the game against Newcastle.

“We’re playing against this level of opposition to give ourselves an idea of the level we need to be at, and I was pleased with our defending early on when we came under pressure.

“At this time of the year you’re looking for lads to get what they need in the tank and then build from there leading into our first league game.”

That first league game won’t come until February 19th with the division having become just a 10-team league following the departure of West Wales Raiders.

Doncaster kick-off their promotion push campaign against Hunslet.