REPORT | Dons 22 Barrow 32

The Dons fell to defeat against Barrow Raiders on a disappointing afternoon at the Eco-Power Stadium.

Pauli Pauli marked the scoresheet with a try in the first half, but four visiting tries and as many conversions left Richard Horne's men behind by 18 points at the interval.

Suaia Matagi found the line in the second 40, as skipper Reece Lyne also secured a brace, but the Dons had left themselves a mountain too high to climb, losing out by 10 points.
Horne made three changes to the side that lost out to Featherstone Rovers a week earlier, with Brad Knowles, Isaac Misky and Pauli all coming into the starting XIII. Josh Bowden made his return from injury as an interchange.
The Dons looked to start strong and went close through Pauli after five minutes, only for the number 16 to be held just short on the left-hand side.
The first score went the way of the visitors after nine minutes as they broke the line and left Luke Broadbent free on the right, who was able to collect and ground uncontested. Ryan Shaw added the extras.
Horne's men looked for an instant response and almost found one when Edene Gebbie dived for the left-hand corner, but the winger was judged to have stepped into touch.
The Dons were made to pay for that missed opportunity on 16 minutes as Barrow's Shane Toal intercepted Craig Hall's pass out to the right and ran the full length of the pitch to score. Shaw converted.
Matter got worse for the hosts three minutes later when an awkward bounce fell for Ryan Johnston to ground the visitors' third try of the afternoon. Shaw again converted.
The Dons were down by 18 points but this time responded. The home side moved from right to left and found Pauli, who smashed through three Barrow men to find the line. Connor Robinson added the extras.
Pauli went close again two minutes later, as did Tyla Hepi, but the hosts' next major chance fell to Logan-Taylor Moy, who went over on the right before seeing play pulled back for a knock-on.
And Barrow pounced on the Dons' misfortune again as Shaw intercepted and ran the length of the field to ground before converting his own try on 39 minutes.
The visitors attempted a drop goal just before the half time hooter, but they could only pull wide to leave the scoreline 6-24 at the break.
Horne's side set out for a response after the restart and went agonisingly close when Robinson and Jones went two against one, as the latter couldn't secure his collection.
The Raiders kept up their ruthless edge and punished the Dons for that mistake as Ellis Robson found space to go over on the left after 52 minutes. Shaw kept up his 100 per cent record with the boot to again convert.
The hosts had a try of their own four minutes later as they went from left to right and missed out a man to find Lyne, who weaved his way to the line. Robinson converted to bring the Dons within 18 again.
By 59 minutes the comeback looked on as Pauli found Matagi, who powered forward and scrambled his way to the line. Robinson converted, and the Dons were within 12.
However, the next try took another 15 minutes to arrive as Moy palmed down Hall's big switch over to the right and left Lyne to pick up and squeeze in at the corner.
The Dons had dragged themselves back within eight points, but that would be as close as it would get.
Robinson and Barrow's Johnston were both sin-binned in the final minutes of the game.
Barrow were awarded a penalty on the hooter, and Shaw successfully kicked for two to leave a finishing scoreline of 22-32.
Dons: Hall, Moy, Lyne, Hey, Gebbie, Boas, Robinson, Knowles, Misky, Matagi, Pauli, Smeaton, Jones. Interchanges: Baldwinson, Bowden, Hepi, Johnson.