Doncaster 8, York 29

Away trippers York Rugby League Club are on the up.

The Wasps surged into second place in division two behind league leaders Bramley with a clinical dismissal of basement dwellers Doncaster Dragons.

And their 29-8 Belle Vue victory march completed back-to-back away triumphs for the first time in four success-starved years.

Wave upon wave of Wasps pressure supplied four first half tries and after the interval unstinting defence snuffed out the best the Dragons could offer.

York arrived at Doncaster on the back of a three game winning run for the second successive season. They were dismal in a 17-6 defeat last term but there was to be no repeat under the Wasps' new order.

Once again York proved they have the finishers to build on the hard work of the forwards and the backs bagged another five tries at Doncaster's expense.

The Dragons right wing combination of former Oldham winger Andy Fleming and centre Ian Watson endured a torrid opening period.

Centre Shaun Austerfield, restored to the Wasps line-up, tormented the hosts with his forceful running and he slipped his marker to open the scoring in the sixth minute.

The return of winger Chris Hopcutt brought welcome consistency to the kicking and he converted the first of his four successful kicks from the touchline.

Within three minutes Leigh Deakin was celebrating his ninth try of the season. Mark Cain read Paul Darley's off-load to give York a four-on-one break and the full-back unselfishly handed the winger a score.

Hopcutt's kick shaved a post but the Wasps were constantly handed possession by slap-dash Doncaster, who committed handling errors galore in the first half.

A curious refereeing decision was crucial in the build up to a third Wasps try, official Ray Cornish awarding the visitors a scrum when Deakin appeared to have knocked on.

However, Lee Hanlan made the most of their good fortune by throwing an outrageous dummy before ducking through the defensive line and running 30 metres to score.

Dragons second rower Tony Miller was held just short of the line on 20 minutes but the Wasps, confidence coursing through their play, failed to heed the warning.

Winger Alex Goulbourne put his side on the scoreboard by clinging on to Miller's all-or-nothing pass and crashing over in the corner.

Captain Stuart Flowers made a hash of the restart and the Wasps were forced to drop out, inviting further Doncaster pressure.

Substitute forward Gavin Morgan took the ball from stand-off Martin Rowse and charged for the York line, knocking Deakin out of his way before touching down a second Dragons try in three minutes.

That quick-fire double led to momentary panic in the York ranks and Hanlan was fortunate not to hand them a third try, his loose pass being knocked on by the Dragons.

The game flared into fighting in the 36th minute, combatants Craig Booth and John Edwards were both sent to the sin-bin, and the fracas gave York time to regain their composure.

The Wasps abundance of attacking flair was encapsulated in Hopcutt's try on the half-time hooter.

Cain collected the ball behind his own 20 metre line and set in motion a flowing move involving centres Fata Sini and Austerfield plus Deakin, ending with Hopcutt crossing for a brilliant try.

Hopcutt converted his own try and added a penalty the other side of the interval after Goulbourne was sin-binned for ball stealing.

The Doncaster pack, meanwhile, were enjoying their most progressive spell and Miller's quick tap penalty was worthy of a try, but Cornish ruled the tap was too quick.

Sini was on hand on the hour to pick up an opportunist first try for the club when the ball was ripped from the arms of substitute John Strange.

Hopcutt converted and Strange added a victory seal with a last minute drop goal.

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