HOOKER James Newton believes teams should be worried about facing Whitehaven after his side stretched their unbeaten league run to nine games.

Millomite Newton ran in a try last Sunday as Haven beat rivals York 18-16 to move back above Barrow into second place in Kingstone Press League One.

He expects a tough test against Doncaster – who drew 24-all with Raiders two weeks ago – this weekend, but revealed confidence is high in the Haven squad.

"Considering how we started the season, it's a totally different atmosphere," said former Millom amateur Newton.

"The confidence is massive at the minute. We've been looking at other teams but now it should be other teams having to worry about us."

"Doncaster have been going really well, they drew with Barrow recently and we knew this group of games would be really tough. They've got a few experienced players like (Iafeta) Paleaaesina and Jamie Thackray."

He added: "We're taking it week by week and trying to consolidate second place going into the super eights. Come mid-July when we play Barrow, it will be massive.

"The likes of Doncaster and York are big rivals too, it was massive to beat York and now we need to beat Doncaster this weekend."

Coach Carl Forster praised Newton after Sunday's game, saying his introduction from the replacements' bench "perked" the team up.

And Newton said: "I think we used our subs really well, York used theirs a lot in the first half but we were fresh in the second half. I felt like we had an impact on the game.

"Carl has given me that job in recent weeks, to come on and speed the game as much as I can.

"We picked the game out as one of our toughest with York doing so well at the moment and it being away so it was great to get the win."

Forster is wary Doncaster, who are fifth in the table, could receive a boost from a new coach and expects the visitors to "come at us from the first minute".

Richard Horne, a 34-year-old Hull FC stalwart, has signed a two-year contract with the Dons.

However, Forster believes if his side stick to their game plan they can come out on top. Haven's Lewis Brown is likely to miss out at the weekend due to a head knock he picked up against York.

"Lewis Brown will struggle, but we should have Marc Shackley back in, so it could be a straight swap if everything goes to plan," said Forster.

New signing Danny Green trained with the squad for the first time on Wednesday but is "unlikely" to play this weekend.