Swinton Lions vs Halifax - match report

Halifax continue to apply the pressure on Featherstone Rovers in second spot after a try-fest against the Swinton Lions.

The visitors came out on top in a 48 – 30 victory over relegation wary Swinton Lions which extended their unbeaten run to seven matches.

Steve Tyrer had a perfect afternoon with the boot, converting all eight of Fax’s tries. In-form half-back, Ben Johnston grabbed himself a brace with tries either side of half-time.

The hosts succumbed to a 24 – 12 deficit at the break, and Fax’s three tries in the second 40 secured the three points. However, three scores from the Lions made the score line more respectable come the full-time hooter.

Fax began the game brightly, and chalked up the opening try of the afternoon within a minute of play. Fax made the most of some sloppy play from the Lions and Paul Mennell scooted over from dummy half.

Four minutes later, Swinton responded. Ed Barber stepped his way to the try-line and Mick Nanyn’s conversion made it six all.

However, the lead was restored when the visitors went back-to-back. Tommy Saxton beat Kevin Penny to the line to cross, and Gareth Potts sprinted 80 metres to make it 18 – 6.

Karl Harrison’s men may have thought they had tamed the Lions, but, they hit back. Brad Dwyer, on dual registration from Warrington, dummied and ducked under the defence to plant the ball down. Nanyn’s extra two got Swinton within six points.

Ben Johnston’s try, five minutes from the interval, gave Fax the breathing space they needed. His double was complete just 30 seconds into the second half, when he intercepted a pass to race away unopposed.

Skipper, Scott Murrell, drew some inspiration from his half-back partner to get a try for himself. Murrell bursted his way through a gaping hole in the Swinton defence to cross.

With half an hour to play and 24 points behind, the Lions narrowed the gap on their high flying visitors. Penny’s centre, Nanyn, flicked the ball out to the speedster who dived over in the corner.

Fax, who racked up their highest score of the season last week against Whitehaven, weren’t quite finished. Johnston sent Luke Adamson over, and try scoring machine back rower, Ross Divorty backed up a break from Adamson.

Swinton went back-to-back themselves inside the final 11 minutes. Luke Menzies palmed off the Fax defenders to touch down, and Menzies was on hand again. This time, putting fellow prop forward Mike Morrison over with five minutes to play. 

Wigan St Judes vs Hunslet Warriors - match report

Wigan St Judes ended their ten match losing streak that dates back to March after defeating fellow strugglers Hunslet Warriors 32 – 12.

The Maroon and Gold’s last win came back in March at home to the league’s high flyers, West Hull.

Despite the score line favouring the hosts come the full-time whistle, it was all square at the interval after two converted tries apiece locked it all up going into the second 40.

However, the visitors were kept scoreless in the second half conceding four tries including a brace from centre Darian Ball. Connor Ratcliffe kicked four conversions from his side’s six tries. 

The Lancashire outfit began the opening quarter of the game the brighter with two tries inside the opening twenty minutes.

Five minutes had gone on the clock when Nathan Jones danced his way to the line, and just under 15 minutes later, Glen Hunt shrugged off attempted tacklers to score.

The Warriors, who were without a win in their last four games, were under the pump, but they turned some pressure into points. Luke Day gobbled up a kick and released Elliot Miller down the left, whose run was backed up by Jake Corney to dab the ball down under the posts.

The introduction of Daryl Gaunt from the bench provided speed around the ruck, something their opponents were gaining throughout the game. Dave Norton used his strength to power his way over with McClelland’s conversion making it all square going into the second half.

St Judes’ response was swift, one minute after the restart to be precise, and they made the Warriors suffer after they failed to complete their opening set. Dave Carney’s pass put Brett Taberner through a gap, and he snaked his arm out to restore his side’s lead by four points as Connor Ratcliffe missed the conversion.

The dry weather conditions enabled the backs to showcase their athleticism. Shae Frazer-Lyon plucked a kick out of the air to feed Dave Walls.

Gaunt continued to be a threat from dummy half, and thought he’d got his side back in it, only for the referee to judge he had been held up just before the hour mark.

From that, St Judes wrapped the game up with Darian Ball’s double in the space of ten minutes. He finished off a move that saw the ball kept alive well down the left side. And then sealed his brace seven minutes from time. Taberner intercepted a pass to go 40 metres down field, only to be halted by the Warriors’ scrambling defence. But, St Judes didn’t panic, Ball proved to be too strong to be stopped by the Warriors.

Halifax vs Whitehaven - match report

A Scott Murrell master class inspired Halifax to blitz play off hopefuls Whitehaven 52 – 12 at the Shay.

Murrell played a key role in assisting five of Fax’s nine tries, including a brace for Luke Ambler, and the skipper went over for a four pointer himself in the second half.

Steve Tyrer, who signed a new three-year contract in the week, kicked eight goals and grabbed himself a first half brace.

The game looked more or less dead and buried at the break, with the home side 34 – 0 up. However, two tries in the final ten minutes for Whitehaven provided nothing more than mere consolation for the Cumbrian outfit.

Fax started the game brightly, and had a few chances inside the opening ten minutes. But, knock ons at the crucial moments, resulted in the hosts coming away with nothing.

They did find the breakthrough swiftly after, Ben Johnston’s break and offload was finished off by Tommy Saxton down the left side.

Murrell drew inspiration from his half-back partner’s assist to double Fax’s lead. His short pass put Ross Divorty through a hole, and Luke Ambler was in support to go in under the posts.

After feeding a team-mate for a score, Divorty would get himself on the score sheet. Murrell attacked the line, and had the ball reefed out of his grasp to leave Divorty to pick up and dab the ball down.

Fax were playing some enterprising football in the opening 40, but, they looked to the skies for their next try. The Skipper’s kick to the corner was plucked out of the air by Steve Tyrer, to round off a perfect week for the centre.

Murrell and Tyrer were involved again, except it was a different name grabbing a try.  Murrell’s cut-out pass to Tyrer ended up in the hands of Saxton, who hacked the ball back on the inside for Luke Adamson to swivel and score.

The Murrell-Tyrer combination was proving to be successful, the stand-off trickled a kick in towards the in-goal area, and Tyrer swooped on the ball to seal his brace. However, he failed to add the extras, the only time in the afternoon he wouldn’t raise the touch judges’ flags.

The onslaught continued three minutes into the second half, Danny Cowling capitalised on an error from Whitehaven half-back, Cain Southernwood to dash 50 metres to score.

Southernwood nearly atoned for his previous mistake to try and deny Fax nilling their opponents. He chipped and chased for himself, and kicked on again for Shaun Ainscough. Only for the ball to roll into touch.

After being the architect in the first forty minutes, Murrell would start and finish a move. His inside ball released Ambler and the big prop forward supplied Murrell with a well-deserved try.

Like Divorty in the first half, Ambler went from provider, to scorer. His powerful drive towards the Haven posts proved to be too strong for the defence, as he spun away from the attempted tacklers to slam the ball over the line, and to bring up the 50-mark for the first time this season for Fax.

The influential Murrell departed proceedings in the final ten minutes, and the home side’s discipline began to drop as they gave away a few penalties to invite Whitehaven into Fax’s half.

Chris Taylor made best use of the gifted field position to take a slight bit of gloss off the Halifax drubbing. Firstly, Taylor dabbed the ball through for himself to re-gather and score. And Taylor would get Haven’s second try a minute from full-time. Former Hull FC man, Brett Seymour, flicked the ball to the short right side to Neil Thorman who fed Taylor to score the Cumbrian’s second converted try. 

West Hull vs Hunslet Warriors - match report

West Hull extended their impressive unbeaten league run to seven matches to keep the pressure on table toppers Siddal after running riot against basement battlers Hunslet Warriors.

The home side ran in nine tries and were 24 – 0 up at the break, exhibiting their dominance and restricting the Warriors from attacking.

Braces from half-back, Ian Kerman and interchange pivot, Carl Puckering added to the misery for the depleted Warriors.

The travellers, who were without numerous key men, including captain Caldon Bravo, provided a brighter second half display, grabbing two tries both converted by stand-in skipper, Gary McClelland, who moved into the halves to pave the way for 17-year-old Louis Sharpe to make his first team debut.

The only disappointment for the hosts during the afternoon was when full-back Matt Plummer was sent to the sin bin at the back-end of the second forty after repeated infringements.

The Warriors were their own worst enemy for the first three tries conceded. Jake Corney failed to diffuse a high bomb, gifting the green and golds another set. Callum Windley burrowed over from dummy half for the first try.

On the other wing, Lee West fumbled a grubber kick which was pounced on by Josh Hart to get over in the corner.

The Warriors’ backs weren’t getting to grips with the greasy conditions. 17-year-old, Louis Sharpe knocked on at the play ball to give West Hull possession. From that, Matt Plummer sliced his way through for a third converted try.

The ability for the hosts to play the ball quicker than their opponents was paying dividends for them. Ryan Steen ran onto a short ball to burst his way through to set up Scott Howlett 11 minutes from the break.

It took just one minute inside the second half for West Hull to dish out further punishment for Hunslet. Carl Puckering stepped his way over. Steve Partis took over the kicking duties whilst Kerman wasn’t on the field and added the extras for the number 14’s effort.

With just under half an hour to play, Paul Shaw crashed over from close range to bring up the forty mark.

After West Hull had capitalised on Hunslet errors, the Warriors made amends and punished West Hull themselves. Dave Norton swooped on a loose ball and made the 30 metre dash to the line.

Despite that, the home side got back into the scoring mood when Puckering’s kick bounced around like a cork in the ocean and was gathered in by himself to slide over.

With the game lost going into the last ten minutes, the Warriors managed to get two piggybacks up the field from two penalties. A further penalty was awarded inside West Hull’s ten, and Plummer was shown a yellow card for a third consecutive breach.

Hunslet made best use of the man advantage, centre Matty Fox danced his way to the West Hull try-line with McClelland’s conversion making it 46 – 12.

The scoring was rounded off a minute from full-time when Windley went down the short left side to send Georg Lawler in for a converted try.