REPORT | Batley Bulldogs 12 Dons 50

Nine tries saw the Dons take an emphatic victory on the road as they saw off Batley Bulldogs at the Fox's Biscuits Stadium.

Richard Horne's men dominated large parts of the first half, and tries from Edene Gebbie, Suaia Matagi, Reece Lyne and Luke Briscoe ensured a 16-point uphill lead at the break.

Further tries from Brad Hey, Gebbie, Craig Hall, Isaac Misky and Briscoe in the second half saw the Dons reach the 50-point mark and crown a stunning afternoon on the road.
Horne made one change to the side that narrowly lost out to Bradford Bulls on home soil two weeks earlier, with Hull FC loanee Brad Fash returning to the team as one of the starting XIII. Pauli Pauli also returned to the side as an interchange.
The Dons started fast and took the lead after just six minutes. The visitors utilised a scrum to perfection and found Gebbie, who held off his man and charged over in the left-hand corner. Connor Robinson added the extras.
The away side went close again shortly after following a good move inside and out from the right wing, but Watson Boas was eventually run out of play short of the line.
But it didn't take much longer for the Dons to find the line for the second time of the afternoon. Robinson's kick on the last tackle was knocked down and fell into the grasp of Matagi, who powered his way to the line after 14 minutes. Robinson again successfully converted.
The Bulldogs challenged for the first time four minutes later, but the visitors held firm to keep the hosts out and regain possession on their own line.
Horne's side raced forward with the ball back in visiting hands, and a move including Jacob Jones, Hall, Boas and eventually Lyne saw the latter cross with ease. Robinson pinned the conversion between the sticks for an 18-point lead after 21 minutes.
The hosts marked the scoresheet for the first time five minutes later as Dane Manning crossed the line on the last tackle before Josh Woods added the extras.
Batley were then awarded a repeat set within ten metres of the Dons line shortly after, but after moving play from right to left and then back again, the Dons dealt with the pressure to take the ball back.
The Dons reasserted their dominance just before the break, though, as they found Briscoe ready and waiting to pick up on the right and charge home to rack up a scoreline of 6-22 just four minutes before the break.
Horne's men returned from the interval with the downward slope to their advantage and capitalised on it. The Dons dragged the Bulldogs in and moved play over to the left, where Hey was completely unmarked to cross uncontested after 47 minutes. Robinson converted.
Gebbie secured another brace nine minutes later as Hey turned provider to offload to the winger, who stepped over the line out wide.
With a four-try lead to their aid, the Dons continued to kick on and found the line again under sixty seconds from the next restart. Craig Hall found a gap through the middle and raced over the line, just ahead of the backtracking Bulldogs defence. Robinson added the extras.
After 65 minutes, the visitors continued to capitalise on their superiority on the left-hand side, as Misky became the next to cross the line and add his name to the scoresheet. Robinson again added the extras.
Batley added another consolation try on 71 minutes as Oliver Greensmith found the line before Woods again converted from the Bulldogs' left wing.
The Dons weren't to let that be the last time the scoreboard operator was troubled for the afternoon, as they again found the line within the final 60 seconds of the game. Briscoe broke free from halfway and raced away to dive under the posts and claim the Dons' ninth try of the day. Robinson added the final two points of the afternoon to confirm a 12-50 scoreline and a return to winning ways.