REPORT | Oldham 13 Dons 12

The Dons fell to defeat by a single point against Oldham RLFC in the Betfred Championship.

Richard Horne's side came from behind to lead through Edene Gebbie in the first half, but an Oldham penalty just before half time saw the scores level at the interval.

Gebbie added another try late on to mark a brace for himself, but Oldham's earlier point scoring proved to be too much.
Horne made two changes to the side that started in the home defeat against Barrow Raiders a week earlier, with Luke Briscoe and Ben Johnston both coming into the starting XIII.
Oldham were gifted a chance to put the pressure on early doors as the Dons knocked on their first tackle, and the hosts made it count as they kicked through to Pheonix Laulu-Togaga'e, who grounded on the last for the lead after three minutes.
The Dons should've been level on nine minutes when Brad Hey received the ball in striking distance, but he elected to pass out to Gebbie and played the ball forward.
The Roughyeds were almost in at the other end after a kick out to the left wing, but the ball bounced into touch.
Horne's men didn't let early missed opportunities determine their fate, however, taking the lead after 19 minutes. The Dons made the most of a repeat set and found Gebbie, who cut inside and sliced through the line to score behind the posts. Connor Robinson added the extras for a two-point lead.
The visitors had to withstand a period of oncoming Oldham pressure over the next ten minutes as the home side were awarded two repeat sets and then a goal line drop-out, but the Dons defended superbly on their own line to keep their opponents out.
The away side were awarded a penalty and then a scrum within the Roughyeds' ten, but they couldn't make either count as they came agonisingly short.
Pauli Pauli looked to be in on 32 minutes after Craig Hall jumped highest and palmed down for the Dons number 16, but the ball rolled forward on the ground.
The hosts were awarded a penalty to the left of centre in the final minute before the half time hooter, and they elected to kick for two as Drinkwater pinned it between the sticks.
Ryan Brierley went for a drop goal after the hooter for a half time Oldham lead but missed.
The sides cancelled each other out during the first ten minutes of the second half as the Dons defended early pressure well to keep the scores level.
The heavens opened and allowed for slips in defence, and Oldham almost made one count on 62 minutes as they kicked into the left-hand corner for Ben Davies, but he could secure the collection in the goal area.
Oldham retook the lead a minute later as Laulu-Togaga'e broke through the middle and handed to Drinkwater, who crossed uncontested by the posts. Drinkwater then converted his own try for a six-point lead.
Brierley successfully kicked a drop goal on 70 minutes to notch the Roughyeds another point in front.
The Dons made things interesting on 79 minutes as Craig Hall broke through and handed to Gebbie, who raced away to cross by the posts. Robinson successfully converted to reduce the deficit to a single point.
Horne's men gave it everything in the remaining time, but Oldham held out to take the win.
Dons: Hall, Briscoe, Lyne, Hey, Gebbie, Johnston, Robinson, Bowden, Boas, Matagi, Jones, Smeaton, Knowles. Interchanges: Pauli, Misky, Hepi, Johnson.