REPORT | London Broncos 18 Dons 38

The Dons recorded a first-ever league double over London Broncos with an impressive 20-point victory at the Kuflink Stadium.

Richard Horne's men came from behind to lead after half an hour in Kent thanks to tries from Watson Boas and Sam Smeaton, but the hosts responded on the hooter to see the sides level at the break.

The visitors responded well in the second half as another Boas try and an Edene Gebbie hat-trick, as well as seven goals from Connor Robinson, ensured a return to winning ways on the road.
Horne made two changes to the side that started in the narrow loss at Toulouse Olympique seven days previously, with Craig Hall and Tyla Hepi all taking their place among the starting XIII. New Hull FC loanee Cobie Wainhouse took his place among the interchanges.
The Dons were presented with the chance to make the perfect start in Ebbsfleet after the Broncos fumbled the collection of kick off, but the hosts kept their composure to see out the set and drag visiting captain Reece Lyne into touch.
Barring that early promise, the opening ten minutes saw neither side threaten the try line, but the hosts were in to open the scoring soon after.
London's Marcus Stock found a gap under the posts after 12 minutes and dived through to trouble the scoreboard operator for the first time of the afternoon. Jack Smith added the extras to give the Broncos a six-point lead.
The Dons instantly set out in search of a response in Kent, but the Broncos' initial defence looked strong to keep the away side out.
The Broncos were then awarded two penalties within the Dons' ten in quick succession, only to waste both.
Connor Robinson's kick out to the right was fumbled again by the home side on 21 minutes, and the Dons made that mistake pay.
A kick through on the last tackle found the run of Boas, who beat every man to the ball and rolled over the line to ground. Robinson converted to successfully level the scores.
The Dons then looked to be in the driving seat throughout the remainder of the first half and went close through Edene Gebbie on the left after the winger met Hall's kick, but the visitors were short, and the hosts had possession back.
But that was only to be a short reprieve as the Dons took the lead for the first time after half an hour. Luke Briscoe and Lyne worked brilliantly to keep the move alive on the right and then find Smeaton, who found a gap to score by the posts for the second time in just under a week. Robinson successfully converted.
The Dons were in front, but the hosts came back at them towards the break. With a repeat set and then a penalty to their aid, Stock found his way through again to complete his brace. Smith converted on the hooter to restore parity at the interval.
The sides were evenly matched from the restart, but Horne's men made the most of an illegal challenge on Pauli Pauli, as Robinson elected to kick for two and pinned the ball between the sticks for a restoration of the lead after 48 minutes.
It wasn't to be an easy ride over the next ten, but the Dons eventually found their way on 59 minutes. A great move on the left saw the Broncos line completely open up for Gebbie, who danced through to put his name back on the scoresheet after a game-long absence, much to the home fans' dismay. Robinson converted.
The visitors were in again four minutes later when Louix Gorman botched a collection and allowed Boas to pick up and race away to ground behind the posts. Robinson successfully added another two points with the kick.
London only had one man to beat in the very next minute on the breakaway, but the ball was dropped to gift the Dons possession again.
Nerves were heightened on 70 minutes when Lewis Bienek crossed on the left before Smith added the extras, but Horne's side weren't to be fazed.
Gebbie picked up in the middle, wove in and out, and then spotted the gap to race under the sticks to complete his brace. Robinson again nailed the kick.
Two minutes from time, the Broncos nearly scored a consolation try, but Gorman dropped the ball on the line.
The Dons were determined to further their winning margin before the final hooter, and that they did. Hall kicked through and beyond the hosts' line, and Brad Hey left for Gebbie to ground and complete his third hat-trick of the 2025 season. Robinson made it seven out of seven with the boot and completed the scoring on the hooter to see his side to a 20-point victory.
Dons: Hall, Briscoe, Lyne, Hey, Gebbie, Boas, Robinson, Baldwinson, Misky, Matagi, Jones, Smeaton, Hepi. Interchanges: Burns, Pauli, Wainhouse, Laidlaw.