REPORT | Halifax Panthers 6 Dons 30

The Dons roared to a stunning victory at The Shay as they saw off high-flying Halifax Panthers in emphatic style.

Edene Gebbie continued his prolific scoring streak in the first half, while Connor Robinson's converted penalty secured Richard Horne's team a lead at the half.

Further tries in the second 40 from Robinson, Luke Briscoe and Watson Boas, as well as another six successful kicks from Robinson, made sure the Dons took a thoroughly deserved victory.
Horne made one change to the side that started in the defeat against Oldham RLFC a week earlier, as Watson Boas returned to the starting XIII. Loan Hull FC duo William Gardiner and Matthew Laidlaw took their places among the interchanges.
Both sides worked their way through sets early on, with neither leaving any room for error or posing any major threat to the try line.
But the first clear-cut chance fell to the Dons, and they made the most of it. Gebbie collected a long Halifax kick, broke away, found Craig Hall, who returned the favour, and then cut inside to find the line and open the scoring after 9 minutes. Robinson added the extras.
Horne's men went close to furthering their lead shortly after, but a good collection and drive out saw the hosts recover.
Halifax responded after 16 minutes when Adam O'Brien saw an opportunity in the centre and charged under the sticks from close range. Louis Jouffret successfully converted to level the scores.
The Panthers looked certain to take the lead four minutes later, but a great interception on the line saw the Dons rescue possession.
James Woodburn-Hall went over for Halifax after 25 minutes, but the stand off was penalised for a double movement to see the ball back in visiting hands.
The Dons made that error pay and took the lead at the other end following Robinson's penalty goal on 31 minutes.
Halifax's Jouffret opted to go for the two on the hooter after being awarded a penalty just inside the Dons half, only to drag the kick wide to leave the Dons' lead intact at the break.
The second half started in the same manner as the first, with neither side making any real inroads early on.
But it was again Horne's side who troubled the scoreboard first. The Dons moved play back inside after a great Gebbie breakaway and won a penalty in front of the sticks, with Robinson again obliging with another successful kick on 52 minutes.
The visitors were almost in again three minutes later, but a knock-on on the left wing saw possession turned over.
The Dons found the all-important two-try advantage after 62 minutes. Robinson picked up in the middle of the park, found a gap, charged through and broke free to dive over the line. The scrum-half then converted again to rack up a ten-point lead.
And it was that cushion that allowed the visitors to increase their advantage after 70 minutes. The Dons moved play over to the right and found Briscoe on the wing, who acrobatically dived in at the corner. Robinson added the extras again.
Robinson added another two points with another successful penalty kick three minutes later for an 18-point lead.
The Dons weren't done with their point-scoring act and added another six two minutes before the final hooter. Another brilliant breakaway from Gebbie enabled Boas to pick up just inside the Panthers' half and race towards the right-hand corner, where the utility man dived over.
Halifax looked to respond on the hooter, but Sam Smeaton took possession and ran the ball out of play to confirm a 24-point winning margin against the side who went into the game week sat top of the Betfred Championship.
Dons: Hall, Briscoe, Lyne, Hey, Gebbie, Boas, Robinson, Knowles, Burns, Matagi, Jones, Smeaton, McConnell. Interchanges: Misky, Hepi, Gardiner, Laidlaw.