REPORT | Dons 24 Newcastle Thunder 22 (Betfred Challenge Cup)

The Dons booked their place in round three of the Betfred Challenge Cup with a gripping victory over Newcastle Thunder at the Eco-Power Stadium.

Richard Horne's side ran in first half tries through Luis Johnson, Pauli Pauli and Tom Holmes, but parity remained intact at the break.

Luke Briscoe also found the line in the second half, but it was a Connor Robinson penalty that made all the difference and secured the Dons' place in a third tie against Castleford Tigers.
Horne made five changes to the side that started in the season-opening win against Halifax Panthers, with Connor Robinson, Suaia Matagi, Connor Jones, Alex Sutcliffe and Luis Johnson all handed spots in the XIII.
Newcastle looked to be starting the stronger of the two sides and went close with a kick forward on the last, but the collection was fumbled just short of the line on the left.
The Dons looked to have worked their way into the cup tie after the first ten minutes and were in a great position to open the scoring after a penalty and repeat set in the visitors' half.
But Thunder took the lead on 16 minutes. Andy Djeukessi intercepted on the right and ran the full length of the pitch to score. Cody Hunter added the extras.
And matters got worse for the Dons before they got better. Ryan Jackson found a gap on the left to score and give the away side a ten-point lead after 22 minutes.
Horne's men responded immediately. The hosts went right from a scrum, and Johnson charged over the line to ground three minutes later. Robinson converted.
And the home side were presented with the chance to take the lead on 36 minutes after a forward pass inside the Thunder ten. Pauli charged forward and held off four Newcastle men to go over. Robinson again converted for a 12-10 scoreline.
The Dons had found their groove and were in again just three minutes later. Horne's side created an overload on the left, and James Glover came back inside to find Holmes, who crossed with ease.
Despite seemingly being in control, the Dons didn't go in ahead at the break. Newcastle's Will Roberts snuck in just to the right of the sticks, and Hunter converted to leave a scoreline of 16-16 at half time.
Horne's side came out strong at the start of the second half and retook the lead six minutes after the restart. Briscoe was alert to the bounce of a kick forward and collected to ground. Robinson converted again to put the Dons six points in front.
And that advantage was furthered on 49 minutes. The hosts were awarded a penalty 20 metres out and Horne signalled to go for two. Robinson obliged and pinned it between the sticks from the left.
Newcastle almost responded immediately and crossed into the goal area, but the referee very quickly pulled play back for an obstruction.
The visitors did come back into the game after 59 minutes. Taylor Pemberton found a gap in the line to the right of the sticks to go over. Hunter again converted to bring Thunder within two.
The sides spent the next 20 minutes going back and forth, but neither could trouble the scoreboard.
Jones went exceptionally close to scoring a superb solo try after getting on the end of his own grubber underneath the sticks, but he was judged to have been held up on the line.
Newcastle threw everything at it and went close on the hooter, but the Dons managed to push the oncoming attack into touch to ensure victory and take their spot in round three.
Dons: Holmes, Briscoe, Lyne, Glover, Gebbie, Robinson, Aston, Matagi, Jones, Springer, Sutcliffe, Johnson, Mustapha. Interchanges: Hey, Pauli, Misky, Hepi.