REPORT | Dons 0 Castleford Tigers 14 (Challenge Cup Round Three)

The Dons exited the Betfred Challenge Cup at the third round stage as they lost out to Super League outfit Castleford Tigers at the Eco-Power Stadium.

Richard Horne's men more than competed in the opening half in DN4, but a lack of finishing touch saw the hosts six points adrift at the break.

The home side came close to troubling the scoreboard operator on a number of occasions in the second 40, but they would ultimately be unsuccessful as the Tigers advanced to round four.
Horne made two changes to the side that started in the Championship defeat at Midlands Hurricanes six days earlier, with Luke Briscoe and Connor Robinson both reintroduced to the starting XIII.
Castleford looked to start fast, attacking their own fans in the Polypipe South Stand, and were awarded two repeat sets within striking distance, but James Glover was on hand to dispossess 15 metres out.
The Dons received two repeat sets of their own at the other end, but Cory Aston dropped just short of the line.
The hosts were proving to be more than a match for their Super League opposition early on and went close through Alex Sutcliffe on the last, only to be held up and stopped short agonisingly close.
The Tigers should've been in on 16 minutes when they received a repeat set on the last within ten metres, but brilliant defence from Horne's men forced an immediate error.
The visitors did open the scoring after 25 minutes. Joe Stimson burst for the line from close range and crossed to ground to the right of the sticks. Thomas Weaver added the extras for a six-point lead.
The Dons looked to respond and came agonisingly close again on 36 minutes as Edene Gebbie went alone and was stopped a matter of yards short.
Titus Gwaze was shown a yellow card and sin-binned just before the interval, but Horne's men defended well to ensure they only went in six points behind after the first 40.
Castleford were held up just underneath the sticks three minutes after the restart as they looked to further their advantage.
The Dons were in a great position to score at the other end just another three minutes later, but the ball bounced out of Connor Jones' grasp within the danger zone.
The visitors looked to run one in on the last on 47 minutes, but the Dons scrambled to keep them out.
The Tigers did eventually extend their lead after 53 minutes. Blake Taafe powered through on the right, and Weaver again successfully converted for a 12-point lead.
Despite the two-try deficit, the Dons were more than knocking on the door in search of a point-scoring incident, but the finishing touch was missing for Horne's side.
Castleford received a penalty on 71 minutes and opted to kick for two. Weaver converted.
The Dons threw everything at their West Yorkshire opposition throughout the final ten minutes, as they did all afternoon, but the visitors held firm to take victory and advance through to the fourth round.
Dons: Holmes, Briscoe, Lyne, Glover, Gebbie, Robinson, Aston, Knowles, Burns, Springer, Sutcliffe, Johnson, Mustapha. Interchanges: Pauli, Jones, Hepi, Gwaze.