REPORT | Dons 42 Batley Bulldogs 16

The Dons marked their return to the Eco-Power Stadium with a seven-try victory over Batley Bulldogs in the Betfred Championship.

Tries from Brad Hey, Watson Boas, Edene Gebbie and Craig Hall gave Richard Horne's side a 20-point lead at half time, and the hosts were in no mood to stop there.

Boas and Gebbie both completed braces in the second half, as Pauli Pauli also marked a return to the scoresheet.
Horne made one change to the side that started in the heroic victory over Widnes Vikings a week earlier, with Isaac Misky coming into the starting XIII in place of Greg Burns. Ben Johnston featured as an interchange from half time to mark his 250th senior career appearance in rugby league.
The Dons got off to the perfect start upon their return to DN4 and took the lead after just four minutes. A repeat set saw Misky pick up within the Batley 10 and use neat footwork to move within yards of the line before finding Hey, who stepped over uncontested. Connor Robinson added the extras.
The Bulldogs threatened just after 10 minutes with a kick into the goal area, but the Dons recovered superbly to charge down the other end of the pitch, only to drop just short of the line and give possession back to the visitors.
Horne's men weren't to let Batley off the next time and found the line on 18 minutes. Boas produced a superb solo effort to weave his way across the field and hold off his man to ground on the right. Robinson converted.
The Dons were awarded a penalty on 25 minutes, and Robinson obliged to add another two points via a kick from 25 metres out, to the right of centre. 14-0.
The hosts furthered their advantage seven minutes later when a brilliant move out to the left saw Hey pass on to Gebbie, who grounded his 22nd try of the 2025 season with the easiest of finishes in the corner. Robinson again converted.
Batley marked the scoresheet for the first time when Aidan McGowan found a gap on the right to squeeze through and score on 36 minutes. Myles Lawford added the extras.
But the Dons soon had those six points back a minute before the break when a swooping move over to the left saw Hall dummy a pass out wide and slot through the gap to score. Robinson converted again.
Horne's side returned from the break determined to keep up their assault and took just four minutes from the restart to go over again as Johnston spun and found Pauli, who crashed over the line after powering forward. Robinson pinned the ball between the sticks to leave the scoreline at 32-6.
The visitors responded after 54 minutes when a bounce fell kindly for Robbie Butterworth, who crossed by the posts. Lawford converted.
But the Dons again instantly found the line again three minutes later. A huge throw out wide from Robinson found Boas, who kicked a grubber into the left-hand corner for Gebbie to chase after and ground to complete his brace and secure a 24-point lead.
Johnston went close to crowning his landmark occasion with a try on 61 minutes, but he was held just short of the line.
The hosts were in their groove and marked the scoresheet again after 70 minutes. Boas kept play alive on the left-hand side and then came back inside to scramble his way through a number of opposition men and find the line. Robinson converted again to leave the scoreline at 42-12.
Batley added a late consolation try through Lucas Walshaw on 78 minutes, but Lawford couldn't convert and left a final score of 42-16.
The result sees the Dons move into sixth in the Betfred Championship with seven games to play in the regular season.
Dons: Hall, Briscoe, Lyne, Hey, Gebbie, Boas, Robinson, Baldwinson, Misky, Matagi, Jones, Smeaton, Hepi. Interchanges: Johnston, Knowles, Pauli, Bowden.