Missed chances, missed conversions, missed tackles, missing discipline: the outcome of this game turned as much on what wasn't there as what was.

With both sides desperate for the points, it was Doncaster who made the most cohesive start with two well executed, but pretty fundamental tries from Woods and Hodgkinson: the first a neat chip and gather, the second a prop steaming through a centre from two yards.

Hornets composed themselves and gained some momentum. Running out of ideas in the Dons' 20 metre zone, we saw that rarest of things - a moment of individual improvisation: Tommy Goulden dinking a teasing grubber behind the defence and chasing through to touch down.

It was Goulden again five minutes setting the platform for Hornets' next score: his break setting up Gary Hulse for a try.

Then, on the half hour a jinking run saw Phil Hasty pull clear of defenders to skate through and touch down. Three quick-fire tries; three missed conversions.

With Hornets back on terms, the ship needed a steady hand, but with seconds remaining in the half Doncaster worked the ball swiftly for Benson to score. With the extras added, Hornets went in 18-12 down at the break.

Hornets began the second half with a real bang. With less than a minute on the clock, Craig Robinson shrugged off tacklers just past half way and pinned back his ears. With open field, no support and only Green to beat, he stepped neatly to leave the fullback flailing and plant the ball by the posts. Mark McCully landed the conversion and Hornets were, again, level.

The visitors then had, probably, their most concentrated period of possession, but failed to capitalise. Then came the 15 minutes that killed the game.

Doncaster took the ball quick-smart up the field where Forth and Green combined to create a well worked try. With the extras, 22-18 to Doncaster. Then great hands from Anderson slotted woods in for a try. 26-18

Then, on the hour, frustrations boiled over as both teams slugged it out on the far touchline. Doncaster had Castle dismissed and Green sin-binned; Hornets had McCully dispatched for a ten minute cool down.

With both teams depleted and a man advantage, the stage was set for a Hornets revival, but - almost immediately - Doncaster worked a huge overlap on the left, only for the last pass to go forward.

Doncaster stretched the lead with a 66th minute penalty. Hornets’ only reply, Gary Hulse's yellow card for niggling in the tackle upgraded to a red as he made his feelings known to the touch-judge on his departure.

Hornets looked spent.

Doncaster smelled blood and on 75 minutes sent Rowe through a huge gap. He cheerfully galloped 40 metres without a hand laid on him to plonk the ball under the black dot and seal the game.

With the game dead, Hornets played, possibly, their best four minutes of football for some months. Firstly Robinson rounding off some good approach work with his second try; then Phil Hasty's kick snaffled by Eric Andrews who found Mark McCully on his shoulder. McCully added the conversions to both to give the scoreline a veneer of respectability at 34-30.

Under such disappointing circumstances, the loser's point didn't feel much of a bonus and, once again, the Hornets faithful were left to rue a raft of missed opportunities.