Dons need to win by 81 clear points over Gateshead to come 4th after Rochdale beat Swinton 34 - 28.

League Table Saturday 3rd September[iFixtures Gateshead v Dons
Keighley v Whitehaven
Workington v Oldham

[iPossible play-off scenarios

[iWorst outcome Dons lose at Gateshead and Whitehaven win at Keighley - Dons finish 6th. We would be away to Whitehaven.

If Whitehaven lose at Keighley, we are assured of a 5th place and would be at home in the play-offs to either Whitehaven or Oldham.

Dons win at Gateshead, regardless of other results, we will be 5th or better, and have a home game next. This would be against Team 6, which will probably be Whitehaven, unless they fail to get a bonus point at Keighley, and Oldham win at Workington.

If the Dons win by at least 81 points at Gateshead, we must finish 4th. We would play Team 7 at home, which will probably be Oldham.

There is no realistic chance of us getting higher than 4th due to the points difference situation.

[iSummary

The most likely scenario is that we win at Gateshead by less than 81 points and play Whitehaven at home in the play-offs.

If we win by 81 or more we will probably be at home to Oldham in the play-offs.

I think we'd fancy our chances a little more at home to Oldham than Whitehaven.

We might win by 81 points and still end up playing Whitehaven if Whitehaven draw a blank at Keighley and Oldham win at Worky!!!

[iWhat is best for the Dons?[/i

The most important result for the Dons is probably that Whitehaven lose at Keighley. This guarantees a home play-off place for us regardless.

See you all at Gateshead!

Good luck to the boys!

The bookies who have priced this one up are in unison on the Handicap market ... Dons -34pts 10/11 with Bet365, Betfred, Hills and Skybet.

Team:

Butterfield

Sanderson
Morrison
Spurr
Potts

Fawcett
Spaven

Scott
Ely
Sampson

Robinson
Edwards

Emmett

Reps

Dee
Carbutt
Kesik
C Hughes

I took you guys on the handicap, not looking a good option at the moment.

Indeed
Not going to comment cos I am not attending .
Gateshead 14 Dons 10

in lead 26-14 after 15 minutes of 2Nd Half-Trie for Butterfield,Hughes and Fawcett

32-14 another try for Morrison

final score 38-14 further try for Hughes and 3 conversions for Sanderson

We simply didn't turn up in the first half ... one of our two tries coming from a breakaway after they coughed up the ball, the other after they missed a tackle and allowed us to scoot in at the corner.

Better in the second half (which we won 28-0) but still error-ridden to a fair degree.

Much to do to trouble any of the other play-off candidates on the first half showing.

We won and thats about it really, did nt expect much more (good job really!) Don t think Whitehaven will be shaking in their boots over recent displays.

Poor show from Gateshead regards not letting supporters into Bar after the game.

Pubs / Bars in Newcastle were fine.

Just wanted to say a big thank you to the Supporters Trust for arranging the bus to Gateshead.

Baz won the draw and donated the prize back - nice one, Baz.

Thanks to Gateshead for making it a cheap day out with the £1 entry fee too.

I echo Wanderer's comments about the performance. We were very dull first half. We played with more confidence in the second half and our kicking game improved considerably.

The funniest moment of the day ...

Dom Dee scores career best try!

The ball is collected inside the Dons' half; he jinks inside one man, moves further infield and finds a gap; the defenders are far too slow to catch this slippery eel of a prop-forward ...

He moves further infield and spots another gap; two more defenders try to close him down but to no avail. He crosses the halway line and waves goodbye to the three players who try in vain to make any impression on the man who would have won the 100 metres race on the nearby athletics track!

The announcer declares the try is scored by Dom Dee!!

It was the best ever try scored by a man who was still sitting on the bench ... it was in fact an excellent try by Gareth Potts!!

Doms shirt was too small and Gareths was to big so they swapped, the drug testers also pulled Gareth thinking he was Dom so confusion all round

It always happens to the Dons .