Hornets got off to a great start. Five minutes in, Simon Irving backing off a tackle and Casey Mayberry taking full advantage to blast through from 20 metres, Woody adding the extras. Sadly casey was taken from the field minutes later with what looks like a recurrence of the hand injury that's plagued his season.

Then Doncaster woke up. First jumbo-sized prop Handforth steamed in unstoppably from two yards (though it was a great effort from Owen to try and stop him), then Maea David lofted a pinpoint cross-field kick for Jason Lee to score. Woodcock added the extras and the penalty for holding down which saw Paul Owen spend 10 minutes in the sin-bin to give Doncaster an unlikely lead.

But Hornets reduction to 12 men kick started their first half. Good work from Tawhai found Sean Cooper out wide and he gathered to score, then James Bunyan snaffled a dreadful Doncaster pass 20 metres from their own line and scooted in under the black dot.

With Hornets back in front at 18-14, that looked likely to be the last action of the half, but with the hooter beckoning, Danny Wood stepped through flailing defenders to score and convert his own try. Half time, 14-24.

With just two minutes of the second half gone, the ball was worked to Sean Cooper who crashed in for his second, Woody converted and Hornets looked home and hosed at 30-14. But it's never really that simple, is it?

With perennial nutter St John Ellis cooling his heels in the bin Doncaster broke up field, the move ending with Lee diving in at the corner. Ten minutes later they repeated the trick - the break from Rivett, the try from Horne. Woodcock converted and Hornets were reeling.

Hornets nudged away again with a crash over try from Matt Long, but swift hands from Donny's props Handford and David put Irving in to score out wide. Six minutes remaining, 30-34.

With the game ticking away, Doncaster seemed to have performed an amazing escape act - Colton scooting round static defenders and bringing the house down with a mazy run and excellent try. Woodcock converted. 36-34.

But Hornets know better than most that games last a full 80 minutes and produced 60 seconds of cold, calculated Rugby league that would seal this one.

Woody hoofed the kick off hard and low into touch 20 metres from the Doncaster line. The sizeable Hornets support raised themselves for one last roar. Possession from the scrum was driven close to the line. Matt Long came screaming onto a perfect short ball and , shrugging off defenders, he crashed through to score right in front of the ecstatic Hornets fans. Amazing stuff indeed. Woody slotted the goal for good measure and the hooter sounded before the game could restart.

It was one hell of an end to yet another incredible roller-coaster season. Third place again is testimony to the hard work, belief and guts that exist at our club. Indeed, I'm told that this and last season are the highest consecutive back-to-back finishing positions in the history of the club (two consecutive 5ths and two consecutive 13ths the previous best).

So, it's congratulations all round. To the board, players, coaching staff and to you. The support at Doncaster was tremendous and, in that incredible last minute, team and supporters alike produced a monumental club effort.

With two weeks off before the sideshow of the playoffs begins, we can all reflect on a job very well done. And regain our breath for the season's grand finale.