Halifax vs Dewsbury (play-offs) - match report

Halifax’s season has come to an end after crashing out of the play-offs to Dewsbury Rams in a 25 – 0 defeat at the Shay.

Former Fax man, Anthony Thackeray, scored two tries, one in each half, along with four pointers from Sam Wood and Tommy Gallagher in the second 40.

Kieran Hyde kicked a penalty goal and a drop goal in the opening stanza to make it 9 – 0 at the interval.

Joe Martin made his Halifax debut at full-back, replacing top try scorer Ryan Fieldhouse.

Fax almost got the opening points of the afternoon after 11 minutes. Steve Tyrer, returning from injury, forced a knock on in Dewsbury’s in-goal area. The centre’s pass around the back five tackles later was dropped by his winger Tommy Saxton.

However, the visitors took the lead three minutes later. Tom Hemingway’s kick cannoned off the back of a Fax man, he re-gathered and sent Thackeray away.

Glenn Morrison’s side pushed themselves 8 – 0 up before the half hour mark, as Hyde kicked a penalty goal from 40 metres out.

Halifax applied plenty of pressure on their visitors, enough for them to concede back-to-back goal-line drop outs, and give away two penalties. However, Fax failed to get on the board.

The home side continued to search for some points when Paul Mennell dabbed a kick through, Dewsbury diffused the situation and were forced into another drop out.

Hyde then nudged the Rams nine points ahead two minutes before the break when he slotted over a drop goal. A reward for Dewsbury soaking up plenty of pressure.

The Rams began the second half with more points, as Thackeray’s kick to the corner was collected by Wood off the deck. Hyde missed the conversion.

The lead was stretched to 19 points before the hour mark, as Hemingway went close to scoring from dummy half, only for Hyde to kick in behind the defence in the next tackle for Gallagher to touch down unopposed.

Frustration was creeping in as Halifax were penalised back-to-back to hand Dewsbury possession inside their own half. Hyde opted for another shot at goal, only to see his kick drift wide.

Victory was assured seven minutes from the full-time hooter. Hemingway once again being the architect, drifting a kick towards open space and Thackeray collected one-handed and spun out of the tackle to plant the ball down and to send Dewsbury 80 minutes from the Grand Final.

Hull Dockers vs Hunslet Warriors - match report

Hull Dockers gave themselves a fighting chance of survival after defeating fellow strugglers Hunslet Warriors 24 – 16.

The game was what many would describe as ‘a game of two halves’. The Dockers chalked up all their points in the first half, the Warriors crossed once in the first 40 and kept the hosts scoreless after the interval scoring two tries.

The green and whites, who were without a win since the 12^th July, scored after seven minutes when Rich Dougal dived over underneath the uprights.

Chris Stephenson landed a 40/20 a few minutes later, and his side posted more points when Stephenson’s grubber wasn’t dealt with by the Warriors and Andy Taylor touched down.

The Hull side were finding themselves in Warriors territory frequently in the first half, and they stretched their lead to 22 – 0 when Paul Fletcher spun his way over, and Stephenson stepped his way to the line.

The south Leeds outfit brought the Dockers charge to halt when they got themselves on the scoreboard on the half hour mark. Luke Pennington managed to get the ball down amongst a crowd of defenders. Gary McClelland added the extras.

A killer blow just before the half-time whistle was dealt when Stephenson fired over a penalty goal with the Warriors judged to have stolen the ball.

The attempted comeback from Hunslet began two minutes into the second stanza. Karl Featherstone’s high kick was snapped up by Josh Murphy, who found the kicker, who in-turn found Daryl Gaunt. The ball squirmed out from the half-back’s grasp whilst he was trying to touch down, however, his team-mate, Johnny Dawson planted the ball down.

The visitors were buoyed by their early second half try, and almost grabbed another score. But, Jim Baker was held up on a last tackle play. They did eventually increase their try tally when Baker sent Lee West over in the corner, McClelland’s missed touchline conversion made it an eight point ball game.

Both sides had their fair share of chances inside the remaining 20 minutes, but the Dockers’ first half blitz proved to be sufficient.   

Doncaster vs Halifax - match report

Halifax slumped to fourth on the league table after succumbing to a 39 – 18 defeat to Doncaster at the Keepmoat Stadium.

With Featherstone losing to Sheffield Eagles, Fax had the opportunity to reclaim second with a win over the south Yorkshire side.

However, braces from player/coach Paul Cooke (who also landed a first half drop goal), Steve Snitch, Dave Scott, along with a try from Mike Emmett was enough to make it two defeats in a row for the visitors.

Doncaster’s first set with the ball resulted in points, when Cooke’s towering kick wasn’t dealt with by the Fax defence, and Emmett snapped up the loose ball to score.

It looked as though the contest would be tight as expected when Halifax drew level when Andy Bracek stormed his way over.

The hosts then opened up a 14 point gap inside the remaining 25 minutes of the opening 40. Cooke unlocked the Fax defence to get over, and the player/coach slotted over a drop goal with two minutes to go to the interval.

Just on the hooter, Liam Cunningham broke down the left, and hacked the ball back on the inside for a number of Doncaster players queuing up to score. Scott was the lucky recipient to touch down.

The home side had troubled Fax’s right side a few times in the first half, and it was no surprise to see them go down that side again in the second 40 on their quest for more points. Cooke dummied his way over, Stewart Sanderson missed his first conversion of the afternoon.

Despite being under pressure, Karl Harrison’s men got themselves back within five points of their opponents with back-to-back tries. Luke Adamson used his strength to score, and Paul Mennell scampered over from close range. Simon Brown converted both tries in place of Steve Tyrer, who left the field late on in the first half.

That proved to be the end of Halifax’s scoring for the afternoon, as three scores in the final ten minutes ensured the three points for Cooke’s men. The former Hull FC man assisted all three tries, firstly, he sent Scott over to seal his double.

Cooke’s inside ball found the boot of Snitch who picked up and scored ahead of a Fax defender, and his try tally doubled when he collected a short pass from his coach.

Halifax vs Featherstone Rovers - match report

Featherstone Rovers reclaimed second spot on the Kingstone Press Championship league ladder after a 20 – 4 triumph over Halifax.

In what was labelled the ‘£250k game’, the Rovers ran riot in the opening 20 minutes, where Jason Crookes grabbed a hat-trick.

Andy Hay’s side would not score a single point for the remainder of the game. However, Ben Johnston’s try on 57 minutes wasn’t the catalyst Fax needed for a spirited comeback.

Two minutes had gone on the clock when Crookes grabbed his first four pointer, after finishing a sweeping move in the right corner.

Crookes would again get his name on the score sheet ten minutes later, Andy Kain’s cross-field kick was flicked on by Ian Hardman and Crookes audaciously planted the ball down. 

Kain was proving to be a handful for Fax during the 20 minute onslaught from their West Yorkshire rivals. And he provided more misery for Karl Harrison’s men when he sent Sean Pick in.

The former Bradford and Hull FC winger sealed his first half hat-trick on 21 minutes, when once again, Rovers went down the right. Hardman put his winger over, Gareth Moore landed the touchline conversion.

Fax nearly gave themselves a lifeline close to the break when they finally found themselves in Rovers’ half. But, Ryan Fieldhouse’s long pass to Tommy Saxton found touch.

Halifax had the upper hand in the second half, as Rovers seemed to cool off slightly. But, just when it looked as though the three points would be made for certain. Fieldhouse intercepted an Andy Bostock pass to get into Featherstone territory. From the next play, Saxton offloaded to Ben Johnston to cross. Steve Tyrer failed to add the extras.

Karl Harrison’s men failed to get over the whitewash again despite applying some pressure on their opponents by forcing a few goal-line dropouts.

However, the rampaging Rovers in the opening quarter of the game proved to be sufficient for Featherstone to regain second place, and to end Fax’s unbeaten run of nine games.

Castleford Lock Lane vs Hunslet Warriors - match report

Hunslet Warriors gave themselves a much-needed lifeline for Conference Premier Division survival after defeating title hopefuls Castleford Lock Lane 16 – 12.

Tries from Man of the Match, Johnny Dawson and Daryl Gaunt along with two penalty goals from Gary McClelland provided the victory over their West Yorkshire rivals.

McClelland nearly got the Warriors up and running inside the first five minutes. However, his shot at goal from 40 out wasn’t successful.

Instead, it was Lock Lane who grabbed the opening score of the afternoon. Paul Brown sidestepped his way over beneath the uprights. Danny Rowse added the extras.

The heavens were well and truly open for the majority of the first 40, and Dawson used the conditions to slide over to make it six apiece.

Lock Lane were close to regaining the lead when a break down the right side left the hosts inches shy of the Warriors line. The league’s top try scorer, Adam Garlick, found himself held up when trying to poach one himself on a last tackle play.

But, the Warriors lost possession of the ball on the following 20 metre restart, to give Lock Lane another attacking set. They made best use of the position, as Danny Holmes crossed down the left.

The Warriors, who are currently second bottom, kept their opponents scoreless in the second half, and drew back level again as Daryl Gaunt used his strength to power over.

The pressure was beginning to mount on Lock Lane throughout the second 40, and Hunslet went ahead for the first time when they were awarded a penalty for interference. McClelland slotted over the shot from 20 metres out.

Garlick, with 23 tries to his name. Tried everything to increase his tally, and to nudge his side back in front going into the final ten minutes. After shrugging off attempted tacklers, the ball squirmed from his grasp at the vital moment.

The hosts became their own worst enemy, as a kick from a 20 metre tap went sailing over the touchline out on the full. The Warriors seized upon Lock Lane’s error to push themselves four points ahead when McClelland added his second penalty of the game.

There was a late scare for Hunslet in the final minute of play when Garlick surged to the line in the hunt for a potential match-winning try. But, the Warriors defence prevented him getting the ball down to claim two vital points.