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Wednesday, 23rd July 2008

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Craig could not make Lions roar



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IT is doubtful if Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy will remember the last time that he visited Halifax.
But if he does it will no doubt be with a shudder for it was in February 1992, virtually 16 years ago last Sunday.
One little recalled aspect of his CV is a season spent at Swinton during the 1991/92 season.
The Lions had been promoted alongside Halifax the previous season – indeed Fax had clinched it with a Thursday night home victory over them in April 1991.
But both sides were struggling as 1992 dawned though at least Halifax had had the psychological boost of having won at Station Road a month previously to leave Swinton well and truly rooted to the bottom of the table.
Few people expected Fax to win 58-10 though and it was a victory purely and simply down to pace, reflected by the scorers.
Andrew Hardcastle records the team that chilly day at Thrum Hall as Dave Watson, Henry Sharp, Warren Wilson, Greg Austin, Mark Preston, Jimmy Irvine, Chris Robinson, Adam Fogerty, Roy Southernwood, John Fieldhouse, Gary Lord, Rob Hutchinson and Greg Pearce with Steve Smith and Richard Milner being the substitutes.
Tries came from Watson (4), Austin (3), Preston (2) and Milner with Pearce kicking nine goals.
The writing was on the wall for the visitors early on when Preston picked up the ball at acting halfback 20 metres from his own line and strode through unopposed to score.
But the outlook wasn't to remain as bright for some of those personnel.
Watson for one.
He was at the peak of his form in this period but by the end of the month he had failed to take a drugs test after a Challenge Cup defeat by Bradford at the same ground and the events had started which were to finish with his dismissal.
Smith for another.
We didn't know it at the time but it was to prove to be his final game for the club.
At least this tremendous servant went out with a win bonus in his benefit season.
That was a benefit which fizzled out somewhat when his actual benefit match was a strange effort against a gridiron team from Manchester where half the game was rugby league and half American football.
It was a low key affair and sad reward for 10 years of superb service.
Irvine for a third.
By the time that March had arrived, Roger Millward had nipped over to St Helens to sign Mark Bailey to play at stand-off – after his original target Dave Tanner, a close friend of Preston's, had opted to go to Leigh instead.
Sharp for a fourth.
The little winger was to see out this season and then start 1992/93 outside John Bentley.
He had a tremendous start as well with a starring role in a home victory over Leeds but before long the defensive frailties of this pairing were obvious for all to see, culminating in a traumatic Friday night Yorkshire Cup tie at Sheffield when David Plange ran riot along the flank.
In came Graeme Hallas, out went Sharp to the Alliance team.

The full article contains 532 words and appears in n/a newspaper.
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  • Last Updated: 20 February 2008 9:18 AM
  • Source: n/a
  • Location: Halifax
 
 

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