After their recent promotion, Doncaster looked to start the season with a strong performance at home to Leeds Adel.
Minutes after kick off Doncaster had won a penalty corner and established a dominant position in the game. After some phases of scrappy play another corner saw Cuffling put the home team ahead with a neat flick of a left slip hitting the back board.
Clouds rolled over the pitch midway through the second quarter bringing pouring rain and making trouble for both sides. On a Leeds break, Rudd found himself in a two on one and decided a physical challenge was the best option. The umpire disagreed and a green card was awarded.
From a Doncaster counter attack, Gunning was chopped down on top of the circle. Which, after very little advantage, seemed to pass without intervention but eventually a yellow was awarded to the Leeds defender.
The first half finished 1-0.
Stoves made it a two goal difference after a period of Doncaster control. The ball came in from the baseline, Stoves playing into Goodwin who’s shot, looking like it was going wide, was picked up incredibly from behind Stoves and put behind the keeper. Adel started to get itself back into the game, winning some corners and forcing Bradley to produce solid saves to keep the two goal gap.
The next goal came from a clean interchange between Goodwin and Benson. Benson entered the circle from the base line, drawing the defender in before playing it into Goodwin who professionally struck the bottom left back board.
The last quarter saw some issues with the press leading to large territory gain by Leeds but Doncaster’s defence proved enough to keep the score line stationary. The final quarter saw a controversial ball into the Leeds circle off a Leeds stick. A corner was originally awarded but was reversed after a strong contest from the defence leading to a free hit outside. Undeterred, a smart play from Redfearn and Wheeldon put the ball back into the circle before Wheeldon took out his pitching wedge and chipped the keeper from the penalty spot. 4-0. The final minutes played out with no incident.
A solid game to put Doncaster at the top of the league table and firmly establish a place for the newly promoted.

M3
Aire Valley vs Doncaster 3
2 : 2

First game of the season and the 3's were getting their long distance game out of the way. Some new faces travelled to Aire Valley, welcoming W Harris and J Biggin to the side.
Doncaster didn’t start well and Aire Valley used their big aerial from the back to go 2-0 up with successive counterattack breakaways.
Doncaster got back into the game and pulled one back before the break with a well worked short corner finished by Houltby.
The second half was much improved and Doncaster saw most of the possession. Another goal from Houltby and some great saves from Baldwin-Hall made it 2-2.
Doncaster had a few chances to win it but couldn’t quite get the ball in the goal.
Overall a fair result against a young, quick opposition.

M4
Doncaster 4 vs Rotherham 2
3 : 5

The 2025/26 season kicked off with Doncaster 4th team facing local rivals Rotherham 2nd team. With several young players stepping up from the 5th team, it was a big occasion and a chance to show the progress being made within the club.
The game got off to a tough start as Rotherham struck twice in the opening five minutes with two fortunate goals that left Doncaster on the back foot. However, the home side soon settled into the game, gaining control and creating chances. Their efforts were rewarded when Tom Brown calmly slotted the ball under the keeper to reduce the deficit.
Rotherham responded with a breakaway goal just before half-time from a Doncaster short corner, leaving Doncaster trailing at the break.
The second half saw Doncaster continue to battle hard. Fearny showed sharp reactions to follow up his own shot and tuck away the rebound, giving Doncaster fresh momentum. Unfortunately, Rotherham extended their lead once more.
Doncaster kept pushing, and their persistence paid off when Lucas and Rob combined with some slick passing before Rob finished at the far post to cap off an excellent team move.
Despite the result, there were plenty of positives to take, particularly in attack, with the new young players showing great promise for the season ahead.

M5
Kingston upon Hull 5 vs Doncaster 5
1 : 2

Men’s 5’s travelled to Hull for the opening game of the season.
Doncaster started strong, holding the ball well and moving it around using the width and speed of the youthful midfield and forward lines to carve out a number of opportunities. Hull were pegged back into the half with Doncaster probing for opportunities, a good interchange of passes and some solid individual skills from O Wilson broke the deadlock for a well-deserved opener after 16 minutes.
Doncaster continued to work the ball around the pitch well from defence through the midfield feeding the forward line and creating more chances. A few penalty corners went unconverted before another display of skill in the D from O Wilson at very close range doubled the Doncaster lead after 32 minutes. Possession was maintained to the half time break with the score maintained at 2:0.
The second half started with a determined effort from the home team to get something out of the game. Doncaster at this point had lost a little concentration and some of the passing disciplines that worked well for the team in the first half were lacking, this allowed the home team to work a move through the centre of the park that resulted in a penalty corner. Against the run of play Hull converted their opportunity and the game was set up for a tense final 15 minutes.
Doncaster continued to press for an opening with a lot of opportunities in the final 3rd that we were just unable to convert.
The game finished 1:2, the team having worked well for each other on the whole. Some reflection points for future games around maintaining strong passing using the whole of the pitch and retaining possession throughout the game, a reflection of some summer rustiness but a great start and a good strong collective team effort with input from all.

L1
Newcastle 1 vs Doncaster 1
1 : 2

The ladies 1s started the season with a trip up north to Northumbria University to play Newcastle Ladies 1s.
It was a big day for a number of DHC Ladies 1s players with 5 of our players playing their first DHC Ladies 1st team game.
DHC started on top form, passing and playing around Newcastle’s defence line. Unfortunately unable to securing a goal.
After securing a couple of short corners with some near misses, we managed to bag our first goal by C Crowther on the back post ready for the rebound after a straight strike at goal by E O’Neill.
The 2nd half of the game saw DHC come under pressure with Newcastle wanting to gain a goal back. A blip in concentration from DHC saw Newcastle being able to counter attack and equalise.
DHC comes fighting back with some superb play between the lines. The ball is received in the middle of the park which is slipped to A O’Neill who’s unmarked, A O’Neill drives the ball up the pitch beating the Newcastle defenders and slipping the ball past the keeper.
DHC managed to defend their lead in the last 10 minutes of the game after being under the cosh.
DHC finish 2-1 against Newcastle. A great first game for the Ladies.

L2
Doncaster 2 vs Brigg
1 : 3

Doncaster Ladies 2s faced a tough challenge this weekend as they came up against a strong and experienced Brigg side, falling to a 3–1 defeat despite a spirited performance.
From the first whistle, Doncaster showed intent and worked hard to match Brigg’s physicality and organisation. The midfield battled tirelessly to break down play and distribute the ball into attacking channels, creating moments of pressure to try and secure a goal. However, Brigg’s experience showed as they capitalised on their chances, finding the net twice in the first half to give themselves the advantage.
Going into the second half, Doncaster battled hard managing to get a goal back with a well converted short corner finished by E. Wood. Unfortunately Brigg scored another making the final score 3-1 loss to Doncaster.
This was, although a loss, a good start to the season for the ladies 2s

L3
Rotherham 2 vs Doncaster 3
3 : 1

First game of the season with many changes to the DHC team and the first goal from Rotherham came within the first two of minutes of the match.
By half time Rotherham were 2/0 up following a goal from a short corner conversion.
Despite this, DHC came out with renewed effort and enthusiasm in the second half. With only one spare player leading to limited substitutions they continued to battle on.
Rotherham went on to score a further goal -3/0 to Rotherham. After some near misses DHC were finally rewarded with a goal following a calm precise short corner conversion from Kerry.
The second half of the match showed the potential that the team needs to build on.
It was great to see that despite being tired everyone gave their all. Women of the match awarded jointly to Binnie and Victoria.
A great start to the season despite the loss, with two new players (Sophie and Bronwyn) from the U14s making their debut for the Ladies teams.

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