With their big name players gone, caretaker coach Gary Wilkinson had assembled a similarly janitorial side for their trip to Spotland. But, despite grabbing a shock lead with a Close try almost directly from the kick off, this shadow of the Lakers was brushed aside as Hornets found their footballing feet.

Reeling from the early hiccup, Hornets were level within five minutes as Phil Hasty stepped his way through tacklers to score. Kev King hit the extras.

But Doncaster closed ranks for probably their best spell of the game; tackling tenaciously (if a little agriculturally at times) to close down Hornets' options and push them into forcing passes. But once Kev King prised open the line to launch Gary Hulse on a weaving 50 metre break after 21 minutes, Hornets were up and running. Hulse's run took him deep into Lakers territory and, as he drew in the last of the cover, he spiralled a looping pass into the arms of the supporting Andy Gorski, who spun over the line for a superb try. Kingy addded the two.

Just two minutes later, good hands off the back of some excellent approach work slotted Eric Andrews in for a try. And, on the half hour, the barnstorming Ryan Benjafield slipped a tidy ball for a Simon Svabic try. Hornets 28-6 to the good.

With the hooter iminent, Doncaster sucked in for one last effort. A last tackle hoist into the in-goal was mis-read by Bolu Fagborun and his opposite number Adebese dropped on the loose ball to score. McLocklan added an excellent touchline conversion to cut Hornets' half-time lead to 28-12.

Hornets began the opening minutes of the second half in ruthless mood that set the tone for the remainder of the game.

After less than 2 minutes, Eric Andrews was on the end of some good handling to score his second; Phil Hasty jinked in for his second, and a huge break through the centre of the Lakers' defence saw Simon Baldwin back-up to score a terrific try that was well received by the home support.

An almost identical break five minutes later found Iain Marsh in the supporting role, but the ball was put to ground with the line begging.

It was Patterson himself who racked up the fifty with a try of his own after 65 minutes and, with the visitors reduced to scrapping and spoiling in the tackles, Hornets had to wait until the 75th minute to close their account; Kev King grabbing a deserved try for a personal haul of 22 points.

The home faithful - boosted by a superb turnout of appreciative children taking part in the schools tag tournament - were treated to Hornets finest attacking display of the season. On the back of a steady, hardworking forward display, Hasty and Svabic had the space and time to open up play and pick their best options. Their efforts were ably supplemented by the introduction of Wayne Corcoran, whose distribution was a delight to watch.

So, as Hornets climb off the bottom of the division to go within a point of big-spending Halifax and a win off 5th place, Doncaster's immediate future looks less certain; the acrimonious resignation of caretaker Wilkinson after this defeat only adding to their woes. Indeed, as Hornets look to polish their performance in time for next week's trip for Widnes, here's hoping that a new broom does the trick at the Keepmoat Stadium.