REPORT | Dons 10 Sheffield Eagles 26 (Pre-season friendly)

The Dons began 2025 with defeat against local rivals Sheffield Eagles at the Eco-Power Stadium.

Richard Horne’s men went into the interval behind with Edene Gebbie’s try not enough to match the Eagles’ three.

Ben Johnston crossed the line for the Dons in the second half but the visitors furthered their advantage for victory.

Winter signings Isaac Misky and Jacob Jones were both thrown straight into Dons action with starts, while Gebbie also took his place among the interchanges.

Hull FC loanee Matthew Laidlaw was also handed a starting spot with Joe Ward, Zach Jebson and Owen Haldenby all used as interchanges.

The early stages saw neither side make any inroad with both taking time to get used to the normality of matchday again, but Sheffield found the breakthrough.

Oliver Roberts took the ball on the right and powered over the line before Cory Aston converted his first of the afternoon after ten minutes.

But before the Dons had chance to respond, the Eagles were in again. Tyler Dickinson broke through the middle and off-loaded to Jack Mallinson who crossed under the posts. Aston again added the extras.

The Dons twice came close to their first try of 2025 through Brad Hey and Alex Sutcliffe, but both were stopped just short of the line on the last tackle.

Horne’s side looked to be growing into the contest, only for the Eagles to swoop in again. The visitors utilised the scrum to shift out to the left and find James Glover who ran through the gap to secure a 16-point lead.

The Dons did respond this time though. The hosts piled on the pressure and found Gebbie who smashed his way to the line and held off Sheffield men to score the Dons’ first try of 2025 in the far corner.

The home side returned from the interval with intent but the visitors again crossed the line on 52 minutes. The Eagles pulled off a sequence of quick passes on the right and left Connor Bower to slide in at the corner. 4-20.

Hey again came within inches of the try line after a spell of good Dons pressure, but the number three was held up.

Horne’s men found their second try of the afternoon after 70 minutes. The Dons made use of a repeat set to move out right and find Ben Johnston who held off his man to go over. Craig Hall added the extras.

The Dons pushed to make further inroads on the deficit, but it wasn’t to be as the Eagles crossed the line again in the final minute of the game.

Corey Johnson smashed his way through to cross to the left of the posts before Aston added the final two points of a 10-26 scoreline.

Dons: Hall, Briscoe, Lyne, Hey, Faraimo, Boas, Robinson, Laidlaw, Misky, Mafi, Jones, Smeaton, McConnell. Interchanges: Burns, Gebbie, Johnston, Sutcliffe, Tali, Ward, Gill, Jebson, Haldenby.