REPORT | Sheffield Eagles 12 Dons 26

The Dons completed a South Yorkshire derby league double for the first time in 25 years with a convincing victory over Sheffield Eagles at the Steel City Stadium.

Edene Gebbie kept up his rich vein of try-scoring form to secure a brace in the opening 40 minutes, with Connor Robinson also finding the line to see Richard Horne's men take a two-try advantage into the break.

Brad Hey then added the finishing touch with a late score on the left-hand side to see the Dons edge six points clear of the Eagles in the Betfred Championship.
Horne made one change to the side that started in the thumping of Batley Bulldogs seven days earlier, with Hull FC loanee Will Gardiner replacing fellow Black and Whites man Brad Fash. Hull's Logan-Taylor Moy also returned to the side as an interchange.
The Dons were awarded the chance to make a rapid start when Craig Hall's kick off was fumbled by the Eagles and allowed the visitors within yards of the line, but an error saw the hosts escape with a penalty.
Sheffield looked to have worked themselves into a dangerous position minutes later after playing through to the last tackle, but the throw out wide was too big and sailed out of play.
The vast majority of first half play was spent inside the Eagles' half as the Dons applied the pressure from the off and opened the scoring after ten minutes. Horne's men moved it from right to left, where Craig Hall pierced a ball out wide for Gebbie to trouble the scoreboard operator for the first time. Robinson added the extras.
Camped well within the Sheffield half, the Dons were presented with an opportunity to further their lead on 17 minutes when Jacob Jones won his side a penalty to the left of the sticks, with Robinson obliging to pin the ball between the sticks.
The visitors kept their foot on the gas and were in again eight minutes later. Beautiful play from Connor Robinson saw the Eagles sold a number of dummies before the Dons number seven kicked into the corner, where Gebbie raced ahead to collect and carry around the back to secure his brace. Robinson kept up his 100 per cent record with the boot to successfully convert.
Sheffield responded on 34 minutes after confusion at the back between Robinson and Gebbie presented the ball to Kris Welham, who grounded behind the posts. Josh Hodson converted to reduce the Dons' advantage to eight points.
But that reduction was made in vain just four minutes later. Robinson spotted a gap and charged through from close range before adding the extras thanks to another successful conversion.
The Eagles won a penalty on the hooter and elected to kick for two points, but Josh Hodson dragged his kick well wide from just in front of the posts to leave the Dons with their 14-point advantage intact.
The second half saw far fewer try-scoring opportunities, with neither team completing well, but the Dons remained in control.
Former Eagle Greg Burns grounded the ball after diving over the line and looked to have crowned a particularly impressive performance with a try, but the referee chalked it off for an error in the buildup.
The Dons' defensive capabilities played a starring role in the second half, holding strong throughout a barrage of Sheffield pressure just after the hour mark and forcing the hosts out of play.
Horne's men's discipline also aided their control of the derby, with the Eagles gifting the Dons field position on numerous occasions, including with a sequence of consecutive penalties that took the Dons from their own line to deep within home territory.
And it was following that spell of play that the Dons put the result out of all reasonable doubt. Robinson kicked a grubber kick through the Sheffield line and found Hey, who raced around the back and grounded to the left of the posts. Robinson then successfully kicked again to make it five goals from five attempts on the afternoon.
The Eagles added a late consolation try through Corey Johnson a minute from the close of play, with Joel Farrell adding the extras, but the Dons' earlier damage ensured a first league double over their South Yorkshire rivals in over 25 years.
Dons: Hall, Briscoe, Lyne, Hey, Gebbie, Boas, Robinson, Knowles, Burns, Matagi, Jones, Smeaton, Gardiner. Interchanges: Pauli, Misky, Hepi, Logan-Moy.