Due to the traffic, got there 3 mins into the game - Gateshead had just scored and Mark Castle was already in the sin-bin.
We twice got back within one score.
I hate singling out players, but after we battled back to within one score the first time, Wayne Riettie collected a ball inside his own 20-metres and for some inexplicable reason he turned into Bolu Fagborun (Batley last season) and threw a pass to no-one (I say no-one, there was another Dons player back but the pass was 5 yards in front and therefore past him) which Gateshead picked up on our try-line to score.
Handforth was withdrawn in the first half having failed to find touch with a penalty and was not used again until Speake got a bang early in the second half. The difference when he returned at 34-6 down ... well work it out for yourselves. I wonder what might have happened had he have played for longer???
Carbutt played despite the injury concerns and Mark Castle was withdrawn before half-time with another injury.
We twice got back within one score.
I hate singling out players, but after we battled back to within one score the first time, Wayne Riettie collected a ball inside his own 20-metres and for some inexplicable reason he turned into Bolu Fagborun (Batley last season) and threw a pass to no-one (I say no-one, there was another Dons player back but the pass was 5 yards in front and therefore past him) which Gateshead picked up on our try-line to score.
Handforth was withdrawn in the first half having failed to find touch with a penalty and was not used again until Speake got a bang early in the second half. The difference when he returned at 34-6 down ... well work it out for yourselves. I wonder what might have happened had he have played for longer???
Carbutt played despite the injury concerns and Mark Castle was withdrawn before half-time with another injury.