A TIRED old clich it might be, but there is no disguising the fact yesterday's Arriva Trains Cup group match was a game of two halves.

The first saw York City Knights put up stern resistance to a massive Doncaster pack and a driving wind to enjoy their fair share of territory and possession, and go in at the break level at 4-4.

But the second saw the Dragons' power, mixed with a good deal of elusive skill, come to the fore as the home side scored 20 points without reply, 14 of them coming in the last 15 minutes as the Knights - just as they had done in their opening clash against Hull KR a fortnight ago - tailed off at the end.

Whether the elongated half-time break had an effect is difficult to tell.

The interval lasted 40 minutes after one set of goalposts collapsed in the wind, with the attempts to fix it turning into a bit of a farce.

Similarly, whether the performance of referee Steve Nicholson - which at times was just as farcical - had an effect is also hard to judge.

Doncaster did deserve the victory for their intense rugby league, especially after the break, but they were helped along the way by the Whitehaven official, who let them get away with a lot in the rucks and made some bizarre decisions which the visitors paid for both directly and indirectly.

It's all swings and roundabouts, so maybe the Knights will get their pay-back next week when the two sides meet again in the Powergen Challenge Cup, this time at York.

It remains to be seen whether any grudges will be taken into that match, but it promises to be a tough affair at Huntington Stadium, and if the Knights play for the full 80 minutes as they had done for the first 40 yesterday, it could be they who go into the hat for the fifth-round draw.

Indeed, it all started so well at Belle Vue as Mark Cain, taking over the goal-kicking duties from hamstring victim Graeme Hallas, slotted over a seventh-minute penalty.

Doncaster prop Craig Forsyth was held up over the line on the sixth tackle soon after, but as York regained possession, quick-thinking Cain made a superb break from a tap, scythed through the offside defence and chipped over full-back Chris Ross to set up a race for the line - only for Ross to body-check the half-back.

Ross was sin-binned and Cain booted his second penalty.

York had the extra man but it was the Dragons who then put the pressure on, forcing a couple of drop-outs and seeing Matt Walker held up.

The Knights' defence was indeed top drawer throughout the half, both in centre-field and on the flanks where wingers Gavin Molloy and Alex Godfrey were dealing with the swirling bombs - one take by Godfrey in mid-air being particularly impressive.

But that defence was breached on 25 minutes when the ball was somehow off-loaded to Simon Irving who galloped down the right to touch down in the corner.

The Knights thought they had retaken the lead when Trevor Krause drove to the line and Lee Jackson darted over from acting-half, but the try was not allowed, presumably because the former Great Britain hooker had not grounded the ball.

And at the other end it was only staunch defending that prevented Donny from going ahead as the heavens opened just before the break.

Doncaster were to have the driving rain in their faces in the second half but by the time the teams returned to the fray, the dark clouds had blown away and, with the diagonal wind dying down a touch, York were to glean little benefit as the hosts upped their game.

Crucial decisions began to put the Knights on the back foot and, with two York kicks in open play going out on the full, their game plan was creaking.

Ten minutes into the half, big James Walker bumped through Jermaine Coleman and drove over to put Doncaster ahead, Irving goaling.

Unlike the referee, Donny took a firm grip on the game and went close several times - Godfrey notably denying them three times with superb cover tackles - in addition to their three late tries.

Brad Hepi forced his way over to extend the lead on 65 minutes, and five minutes later Ross scored a magical solo try, Irving converting.

Those two combined again as the dancing Ross set up the position for Irving to cross for his second and give the scoreline a more flattering look.

Doncaster:

Ross, Gleadhill, Golden, Irving, Lee, Leafe, Moxon, Handforth, Colton, Forsyth, Green, Lawton, M Walker.

Subs (all used): J Walker, Edwards, David, Hepi.

Tries: Irving 25, 75; J Walker 50; Hepi 65; Ross 70.

Cons: Irving 50, 70.

Pens: None.

DG: None.

Sin-bin: Ross 15.

Sent off: None.

Knights: Beever 6, Godfrey 7, Smith 6, Coleman 5, Molloy 6, Cain 7, Krause 6, Hayes 6, Jackson 6, Bolus 6, Ramsden 7, Fletcher 6, Callaghan 8.

Subs (all used): Yeaman 6, Embleton 5, Stannard 7, Kennedy 6.

Tries: None.

Cons: None.

Pens: Cain 7, 15.

DG: None.

Sin-bin: None.

Sent off: None.

Man of the match: Darren Callaghan - a fired-up and potent performance in attack and defence.

Referee: Steve Nicholson (Whitehaven).

Penalty count: 7-7

HT: 4-4.

Attendance: 1,029

Updated: 12:04 Monday, February 03, 2003