We have to have a thread for upcoming games, it's traditional.
So here goes.

Apparently Sunday will be a nice day weather-wise and so we can look forward to a game with a high level of skill after last Sunday's quagmire-fest.

So how will it go?
I am very confident and expect to see the Dons return to the form shown in the first game against Hunslet at home.
We were cutting, incisive and enthusiastic that day, as well as being in great form defensively.

Now our side, supposedly, has got stronger personnel-wise. Couple that with us playing a side from our own division for a change, albeit one of the better ones if the bookies are to be believed, it should be set fair for a great start by the Dons.

What say you?

A tough start for the Dons , but we beat them twice at home last season. Team selection should be interesting especially in the forwards. According to the press TM hoping Butterfield & Burnett will be fit.

Did not see game against hunslet at home, i will take yout word for it they played well. Sheffield first game,improved second half,same with York.If these second half performances can be upped to the full 80,and amount of missed tackles improves, i think the Dons can win quite easily. Whitehaven are unlikely to be anywhere as quick as York and Sheffield at moving up in the tackle so i would expect the forwards to make good yardage. And if Powley comes on from the bench and Whitehaven tire in each half he could cause some real damage.

I expect Whitehaven, as is their normal way to play a forward game.
if we can blunt that, we should win easy.

But, it depends what head the Dons have on come Sunday.
If we play it quick from the play-the-ball, we will have them on the back foot.
Cooke needs to show fast distribution, we don't need slow stuff.

Speed at the play of the ball is something that needs to be improved i think, but i expect that to improve as players get used to each other, and match fitness improves. Cookey has very good distribution and kicking skills that, once the rest of the team get to know,will i am certain pay dividends

www.thestar.co.uk/sport/rugby-league

www.thestar.co.uk/sport/rugby-league

Again,he says he felt they delivered in the second half. We are back to to we need to play the full 80. I honestly think if they played all the games to full potential instead of in second half bursts, then there is nothing to fear in this division.I fully expect,now it's the league, that the team will be more focused than they appear, to me at least, have been.

I pretty much agree with all of that.
It's vital we get off to a good start. We have a good team assembled who should be confident in their own abilities to go out and do a good job on Haven on a decent open pitch. Let's make this our last season in CC1. COYD!!!!

yes this is when it all starts,im glad we have played championship teams it gives the the team an idea of where we should be in 12 months time.lets not get carried away about being promoted we have to earn it, not expect it!.
and it will be a roller coaster but it will be a great division to watch,
looking forward to sunday.
coyd.

Match Preview

Doncaster RLFC will make their much anticipated league bow on Sunday afternoon when Whitehaven visit the Keepmoat Stadium - the big game has a 3pm kick-off.

Head coach Tony Miller is hopeful that Mike Burnett and Mick Butterfield will both be fit enough to return to action for the Co-operative Championship One opener. Both players have trained this week and Miller will make his decision after tonight's training session.

New dual signing Kieran Hyde will make his home debut alongside former Wildcats team mate Paul Cooke and Dons' skipper Craig Robinson should play despite suffering a facial injury against Hunslet. Craig Fawcett continues to sit out with a knee injury.

The Dons' Northern Rail Cup campaign ended in disappointment last week at the South Leeds Stadium but the club's focus has always been on the league and they will be looking to secure a top four finish to make a welcome return to the Championship.

Miller said: "This year's Championship One is probably going to be one of the most competitive in recent years, and we're expecting Whitehaven and the other Cumbrian clubs to be tough opposition.

"The likes of Whitehaven and Barrow (next week's opponents) are always hard to beat. They're big, strong sides who try to put you on the back foot and will be amongst the front runners.

"It's imperative that we get off to a good start in the league and set our stall out early - it's all about finishing in the top four and getting promoted this season."

Whitehaven's head coach Don Gailer has highlighted the Dons' half backs as key to Miller's side and said: "I'm told they play a really fast and open style of footy, and they've got two top quality players in their halves in Cooke and Hyde.

"If you give them time and space, then with their experience they'll cause you some problems."

For Whitehaven, Lee Doran (suspended) and Craig Calvert (neck) are both set to miss out, while Scott McAvoy's chances of playing are rated as only ‘50/50' by Gailer.

Gailer added: "We were a bit disappointing in the Northern Rail Cup, but all along the attitude has been good.

"Against Barrow last week I made 10 changes, and the boys really put in a great effort. We didn't get a positive result, but we got a positive outcome on the field."

Green Top Primary School of Thorne will be bringing their cheerleading and dancing teams to the Keepmoat once again. The school's performance last season was a resounding success for all concerned and the Dons' new cheerleaders, the RLC Rockets, will also be at the game cheering on the Dons.

The club have also handed out a number of free tickets to children at several Doncaster primary schools who have signed up to the Dons new attendance programme. Children who have achieved a 100% attendance rate have been given the free tickets as a reward for their efforts.

Tickets for the game are on sale now and prices are as follows:

Adults - £10 early bird/£12 match day
Concessions - £8 early bird/£10 match day
Juniors (5-16) - £2
Under 5's go free

To purchase tickets and to take advantage of our special early bird offer please contact the stadium's ticket office on 01302 762576.

Make sure you don't miss Sunday's game for what promises to be a great family day out for rugby league fans.

‘Come on you Dons!'

Some good points well made by earlier posts. It's great to see the real season begin.

These are the critical points for me:

1) Keep ball handling errors to a minimum
2) Quick play the balls when we're in possession, and slowing down (legally!) the oppositions play the balls.
3) Discipline - I would guess that a try results around 33% of the time when you give away a penalty. In effect every penalty costs around 2 points.

4) Good tactics - play an expansive game when we're faster in the backs, and play more down the middle when we're bossing this area. I feel Tony Miller is excellent in getting the tactics right.

Hopefully, come Sunday night we'll be reporting back on these things going well, as opposed to badly, and that we've got our first points on the board ... and hope it's not just a bonus point!

I won't mention the impact a ref can have on the game because ultimately a team can only control the controllable, and the ref's performance will never fall into that category!

Good luck to the lads for Sunday!

As much as we all like to moan about the refs ,if we stick to points 1 to 3 then the result will generally take care of itself.

Very true, Rupert.

I tend not to moan about refs as I think they try to be fair but are human and get things wrong ... but don't we all?!

The thing that annoys me more is the touch judges inability to see forward passes and things that seem to happen under their noses ... but then again, we're always experts at the things other people do ... and without them we wouldn't have a match, so it's down to us as a team to do what we can and let all other things take care of themselves.

more news www.thestar.co.uk/sport/rugby-league

more news www.thestar.co.uk/sport/rugby-league

Handicap Betting from Bet365 ...

Dons -4pts 10/11
Whitehaven +4pts 10/11
The Handicap Draw 16/1

Close call then .

Rubbish, the Dons will blast them!
Whitehaven have done fook all this season, where do they get this crap from?

I think its got something to do with the theory that the 3 Cumbrian teams will get promotion.

I donot agree with that either.

I like your thinking

I can't see all 3 being promoted either ... I just can't see there being enough decent players who wish to ply their trade in Cumbria for a full season.

well it looks like summer rugby may have finally arrived

, heres hoping it brings the crowds out,and stand-offish is right, give them a reason to come back

I'm guessing that the weight of early money is for the Dons ...

Revised Handicap Betting from Bet365 ...

Dons -8ts 4/5
Whitehaven +8pts Evens
The Handicap Draw 16/1

all the other bookies now quoting (BetVictor, Skybet & Hills) are giving the Cumbrians a 10 point start.

Ladbrokes prices now available ...

Dons -8pts 10/11
Whitehaven +8pts 10/11
The Handicap Draw 16/1

The Dons are generally 2/7 to win the match.

Well due to the nice weather and lack of being busy I think I'll pop to the game this aft, I think its pretty much perfect conditions for a fast open game, here's hoping the Dons start the season with a bang.

Good man.
I hope the Dons show you what they can do this time.
COYD