REPORT | Dons 19 Halifax Panthers 12

The Dons kicked off the 2026 Betfred Championship season with a seven-point victory over Halifax Panthers at the Eco-Power Stadium.

Tries from Reece Lyne and James Glover saw Richard Horne's side ahead in the first half, but the scores were level at the break.

Connor Jones also found the try line in the second half, and Cory Aston added a drop goal ten minutes from time to secure the points on home soil.
Horne named five winter signings in his first league XIII of 2026, with Tom Holmes, Glover, Aston, Gadwin Springer and Muizz Mustapha all handed starts. Fellow new recruit Connor Jones also featured as an interchange.
The Dons started the brighter of the two sides, as Greg Burns was stopped just short of the line after just six minutes.
The hosts posed a threat with kicks through into the goal area early on, but Halifax managed to survive.
Watson Boas looked to capitalise on a Panthers goal line drop-out on 12 minutes, but he dropped the ball ten metres out.
Springer looked certain to open the scoring six minutes later when Springer received the football five metres from the visitors' line, only for Jacob Fairbank to save the day for Halifax.
But the Dons did take a deserved lead on 24 minutes. Neat play saw Luke Briscoe and Lyne interchange on the right and left the latter to charge in. Aston added the extras.
The Dons were also awarded a penalty for a high tackle during the try-scoring action, and Aston ensured to convert to make it an eight-point try.
Halifax responded on the half-hour mark as Ben Foster scrambled to the line just to the right of the sticks. Jack Hansen converted.
The Dons instantly struck back and made it a six-point lead five minutes later as James Glover found his way to the line on the left on the last for a debut try.
Despite the Dons' dominance in the first half, it was level at the break. Mark Nofoaluma charged in on the left-hand side, and Hansen added the extras to leave a half time scoreline of 12-12.
Briscoe was sin-binned four minutes after the restart, and just sixty seconds later, Lyne was forced to make a huge try-saving tackle to deny Halifax of the lead on the left wing.
Horne's men didn't just try to survive with 12 men and retook the lead on 49 minutes. Connor Jones broke through a gap to the left and crossed to score. Aston added the extras again.
Brad Knowles went close just after the hour mark and was held up on the line underneath the sticks.
The Dons found the crucial two-try advantage with ten minutes to go. Aston played smart and pinned a drop goal off the right-hand post and between the sticks for a seven-point lead.
Aston was held up on the line in the dying minutes as the Dons looked to further their advantage.
But it wasn't to matter, as Horne's men held strong to make sure 2026 started in winning style.
Dons: Holmes, Briscoe, Lyne, Glover, Gebbie, Boas, Aston, Knowles, Burns, Springer, J. Jones, Smeaton, Mustapha. Interchanges: Matagi, Pauli, C. Jones, Johnson.