That day saw Rovers celebrate their return to the Football League when they kicked off their 2003-2004 Division Three season with a 3-1 win over the O's.

It was quite a few degrees colder sat on the fifth floor at the top of the new stand, and the game was not quite as memorable.

Rovers barely got out of first gear in the first half and were fortunate to be only one goal down at the break.

But they played much better in the second half and but for the woodwork and heroics of the Orient keeper, they could have claimed all three points.

Which, with Carlisle losing, would have seen them climb into second place on goal difference.

I had a quick word with former record signing Sean Thornton after the match.

The midfielder said that he had been disappointed he had been dropped to the bench because he had been looking forward to playing against his former club.

But he admitted: "The manager made five changes and you have to say that he got it right because that is the best that we have played for a number of weeks."

There was quite a bit of banter between Leeds and Rovers fans on the train back from King's Cross regarding United's bid to get their 15-point deduction overturned.

All the Leeds fans I heard didn't want the points back. One described it as 'charity.'

Doncaster Knights Rugby Union Club underlined who is the top dog in South Yorkshire these days by comfortably beating Rotherham Titans 52-15 at Clifton Lane in their penultimate National League One game of the season.

I had fancied Knights to complete the double but not by such a big margin.

The Titans – who enjoyed two spells in rugby's top flight before running short of the money needed to continue to operating at that level several years ago – had put 71 points past Newbury the previous week.

Knights ran in six tries without reply after the break after trailing 15-10 at the turn.

But director of rugby Lynn Howells insisted that it hadn't just been a 40 minute performance and that the groundwork had been done in the first half.

SUNDAY: DONCASTER Rugby League Club came off the Wembley trail by going down 38-12 against Widnes Vikings in their Carnegie Challenge Cup fourth round tie at the Keepmoat Stadium.

The Dons looked capable of pulling off a shock in the first quarter when leading 12-4 and things could have turned interesting had hooker Corey Lawrie's try not been disallowed (wrongly in my opinion) for a double movement.

Widnes hit back to lead 22-12 at the break and ran out worthy winners, though I felt that the score flattered them.

I had hoped to have a word with former Dons coach John Stankevitch but the Widnes No 2, who was barely recognisable in his bobble hat and several tracksuits stood on the touchline, kept a low profile after the game.

Earlier the Dons had officially re-opened the St John Ellis Bar in the West Stand – named in memory of their former coach who collapsed and died during a training session a couple of years ago aged just 41.

Singe's widow Melanie, and the couple's two children, had been invited to attend.

She heard the club's director of rugby, Carl Hall, pay an emotional tribute to Singe before she was presented with a special shirt.

MONDAY: ANDY Bell, who became Doncaster's first British boxing champion for a decade when he recently outpointed Stoke's Chris Edwards, took his Lonsdale belt – easily the best belt in the sport – to Doncaster Plant Works ABC.

The 22 year-old spent five years at the Hexthorpe-based club run by Ken Blood.

"It was nice to see Andy down at the club with the Lonsdale belt, which he gets to keep if he defends it three times," said Ken.

"Hopefully it will inspire some of my promising youngsters to try and emulate him.

"Andy has obviously trained hard since he turned pro because he is lighter now than when he was here, even though he has grown a few inches.

"Doncaster is very fortunate to have two such good boxers as Andy and Jamie McDonnell at the same weight, and I can't wait to see them in the ring together again; it should be a cracker."

TUESDAY: DONCASTER Knights, who fielded a mixed side, booked their place in the Yorkshire Cup final by beating a young Leeds side 29-15 in their semi-final at West Leeds.

The game, which Knights should have won more comfortably, was marred by a brawl which lasted for almost a minute and involved most of the players.

Such incidents do little to enhance the reputation of either club or the game.

With Wharfedale winning their semi-final, next Wednesday's final at Harrogate will be a repeat of last year's showdown which saw Doncaster lift the trophy for the first time.

WEDNESDAY: DONCASTER Rovers recall former skipper Graeme Lee from his loan spell with Shrewsbury due to the club's lack of fit centre-backs.

The odds would appear to be against the 29 year-old being offered a new deal in the summer.

That being the case it would be nice to see him turn out again in a Rovers shirt for one last time – something which would give the fans the chance to show their appreciation of his efforts last season.

THURSDAY: CARL Hall got in touch to say that Welshman Tony Fisher would be travelling up to Doncaster to attend the Dons Past Players' Association dinner at the Keepmoat Stadium prior to Sunday's attractive National League Two top-of-the-table clash against Keighley.

Regarded as one of the hardest men ever to play what is arguably the toughest team sport of them all, Fisher steered the Dons into the top flight for the first and only time in their history in the mid-90s.

After making a flying start to the season (they actually topped the table at one stage) things went downhill.

South African star Jamie Bloem – who had been outstanding – became the first player to receive a two-year ban for taking steroids – and the club ended up going into liquidation with debts of over £1m.

"Tony, who recently retired from work, rung up this week asking for a trial," said Hall.

"It was great to hear from him.

"I played for the Dons under Tony and he was good enough not to stand in my way when Bradford came in for me midway through the promotion season.

"He's not been in the best of health in recent years – I think he's had a couple of heart scares, but he seemed okay when I spoke to him and he is looking forward to meeting up with some of the players he coached and also chatting to the fans.

"All the players will be introduced to the crowd at half-time and they will be in the St John Ellis bar after the game.

"I'd like to thank the Crown Hotel at Bawtry for putting Tony and Wayne Jackson, who will be travelling over from Hull, up for the evening free of charge so that they can have a night out with the players."

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