Bet365 have finally caved in ...

Dons -10 10/11
Crusaders +10 10/11
Handicap Draw 16/1

Dons team ...

Guzdek
Halliday
Hey
Fonua
Faraimo
Johnston
Robinson
Knowles
Burns
Vete
Smeaton
Ferres
McConnell

Foster
Holdstock
James
Boas

HT Dons 8 Crusaders 0

Try, Fonua
Conversion, Robinson
Penalty, Robinson

FT Dons 18 Crusaders 6

Tries, McConnell & Smeaton
Conversion, Robinson

Congratulations, Donny, and a thumbs up to Wanderer!

Back this afternoon from holiday - shocking planning!!
Managed to catch the last 30 mins on The Sportsman, looked a great atmosphere, really wish I’d been there.
Let’s make the most of it!!

Our defence won us that game .

Congratulations to all at the Don's, really pleased for everyone. Hopefully a much longer stay in the chàmpionship this time.

We defended our line extremely well when we had to.

Credit to North Wales, they threw a lot at us especially down the middle. It was closer than I thought. With a few additions - providing they're able to keep their better players - they should be contenders next season.

With Newcastle and Keighley coming down, there could be some good battles in League One. Oldham have made some big name signings, Hunslet should be thereabouts and Workington might improve. Not sure where Rochdale are likely to be at though.

Of course, with Skolars dropping out, it remains to be seen how the League One fixtures are compiled as a 9-team league means teams will have to play each other more than twice. Playing teams three times brings an inherent unfairness regarding whether you play the better teams at home or away in the third meeting.

Thankfully we won't be in that league!

Our promotion chances were greatly enhanced when we signed Albert Vete and Mahe Fonua as their extra class was noticeable at this level. The club need to be given a lot of credit for taking these opportunities when they came along.

The crowd was over 2,500 I believe. I hope those who turned out today stick with the club throughout next season. I fear we'll revert back to type and struggle to get 1,000. I hope I'm wrong. Numbers should be boosted by away fans but it'd be nice if we could have a core fanbase of 2,000+.

How will we do in the Championship? That's probably a question for another day but well done to all the players for putting their necks on the line and finally getting us out of this league. You've shown the true battling qualities that epitomise why I've loved watching the Dons for the last 50 years.

The right result and congratulations on it.

Pity one or two on Facebook have seen it as an opportunity to gloat / have a dig at people who have raised previous questions.

Some big performances today Guzdek, Robinson & Knowles to name just 3.
The home fans were great & the visitor fans added to the atmosphere.

Well done you DONS.

That's poor form ... no need for it. It's one of the reasons I steer clear of Facebook, X and the like.

Can we not find a magic cure and teach people how to disagree respectfully?

Random stat of the day: Todays attendance (2549) is the 5th highest in the clubs history at the EcoPower/Keepmoat, and the biggest since 2018 against Bradford (2780), Only back in 2007 against Castleford (4180 and 652icon_cool.gif and Sheffield (2753) were there bigger crowds.

Its me I am the problem it seems - I even went so they cannot have a go at me for that.

Excellent result and a hard-fought victory, the work will start in earnest to build a side capable of holding its own in the championship - I'd like to convert Vete and Gudzek to permanent signings we know Fonua is aff to Aus but Faraimo looked handy and someone we should try to retain to.

Well we finally did it...
Thanks to resolute defending...something we had to do far too much of.
Horne is in the hall of fame now.
That is down to getting Vete and Fonua as far as I am concerned.
I never thought we would lose, but we made it hard for ourselves...
Still, both sides wanted it and it was a battle...
A typical final...

The facebook freaks gloating that it's took us nearly a decade to get out of the bottom division? They really are a bunch of sad tvats and don't realise they are a a big part of the problem with this club! On the field it was a great atmosphere yesterday and a fully deserved promotion let's hope the powers that be show the same ambition for next season COYD

No Faraimo for the Dons next season:

[urlhttps://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/sport/other-sport/ex-hull-fc-and-castleford-tigers-man-switches-to-rugby-union-after-short-doncaster-rlfc-stint-4347204[/url

Brett Ferres to play on...

[urlhttps://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/exclusive-brett-ferres-to-enter-staggering-20th-professional-season-following-retirement-u-turn-as-ex-england-international-prepares-for-play-off-final[/url

Theres always going to be a certain part of the fanbase, especially on Facebook, who will find a reason to cause disputes.

Its one thing getting out of there, its another thing staying out of there. I'm sure that the staff already have a few targets in mind, as well as one or two who may call time on their time with the club.

I've been lucky enough to be part of two of the biggest days in the clubs history, but, I think yesterday could actually be a proper turning point for how the club is viewed within the city.

Club doncaster have the funds to be competitive in this league and even the super league but have chosen to sit on their hands, if they dream of crowds and the atmosphere of yesterday they need to show ambition. The calibre of teams we will be facing next season are multiple levels above what we have faced and if we continue to be frugal we will become a yoyo club.

The realist in me says we do need a major injection of new blood into the squad - I can see a few moving on or retiring, business needs to be done early and build on the buzz caused by yesterday.

I noticed quite a few Rovers fans there yesterday I wonder how many can be swayed to watch both or just watch the Dons?

I agree its considerably cheaper to fund a strong Championship team than a League 2 football club, I think in some regards we got lucky at the end of the season with players of the calibre of Vete and Fonua becoming available (well done for getting them in) but it was papering over the cracks in some regard still.

We cannot afford to do that next season or as K&C has said we'll become a yoyo club and all the good work leading to yesterday will be worth nothing.

My view Steve is that if the product is good and both arms of Club Doncaster have committed players and happy squads and they can see the effort is there then there is no reason not to support both the Rovers and the Dons, tribal loyalties aside. The stretch will be for some folk the finance of supporting both teams.

I can't see for the life of me a sixty quid season ticket next year for the Dons and if they are to maintain their Championship position then surely there has to be extra revenue to finance that stance. The extra income from an increase in the number of away fans for next year will no doubt help as will extra revenue from the RL and hopefully a good increase in sponsorship money.

A big well done for finally making it out of League one lets hope that they are up to the challenge of this next level.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1NQ3iBC8dA Highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1NQ3iBC8dA Highlights

Full match reply:

[urlhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZji465I6lc[/url

Congratulations to The Dons, I’m looking forward to seeing you all at the Stade Ernest Wallon next season.