York City Knights 16 Doncaster 8

Knights: Robson 8, Foggin-Johnston 7, Rawsthorne 7, Haynes 6, Saxton 7, H Tyson-Wilson 7, Presley 7, Siddons 7, P Smith 7, Robinson 6, E Smith 8, Hey 7, Spears 8. Subs (all used): Ellis 7, Dixon 6, Porter 8, Clavering 6.

Tries: E Smith 16; Ellis 47; Rawsthorne 75.

Conversions: H Tyson-Wilson 47.

Penalties: H Tyson-Wilson 14

Sent off: none.

Sin-binned: none.

Doncaster: Carr, Sheriff, Doherty, Tali, Barnett, Cross, Hedges, Braham, Kesik, Spiers, Heil, Martin, Muranka. Subs (all used): Wright, Scott, Paleaaesina, Thackray.

Tries: Paleaaesina 22.

Conversions: Carr 22

Penalties: Carr 40.

Sent off: none.

Sin-binned: none.

Man of the match: Ash Robson – it was a tough call but the returning full-back was the inspiration behind much of York’s good work, and he doesn’t half get defenders involved when they don’t want to be. Tim Spiers and Ed Smith were immense in the engine room too, while Joe Porter’s enthusiasm is infectious.

Referee: Greg Dolan (Widnes) – 26 penalties in many respects says something but he didn’t do too badly.

Penalty count: 14-12

Half-time: 6-8

Weather: nippy and breezy.

Attendance: 1,012

Moment of the match: the 75th-minute try that sealed victory. Ash Robson started it with a rapid 20-metre restart before sending Nick Rawsthorne flying up the wing. He was hauled down but the set ended with quick, long-range passes from Andy Ellis and Jonny Presley allowing Harry Tyson-Wilson to chip back to Rawsthorne’s wing where the on-loan Hull winger outjumped his man and touched down.

Gaffe of the match: Four times the Knights fumbled the ball early in the tackle count deep in Doncaster territory in the first half, wasting cheap ball instead of turning any kind of screw.

Gamebreaker: Nick Rawsthorne’s 75th-minute try sealed the victory.

Match rating: The game was not great in quality as shown by the completion rates – York with 70 per cent and Donny only 62 – but there was plenty of interest and atmosphere throughout, and in the end it was a victory for grit and mental strength, two factors head coach James Ford had said were missing in last week’s sorry show at Oxford.