Back rowers Paul Smith and Mark Flanagan both scored twice as Matt Calland's side leapfrogged the big-spending Reds at the top of the table.

Even in difficult conditions that hardly suited their usual brand of free-flowing rugby league, Fax always looked to have far, far too much attacking firepower for Ged Stokes' Cumbrians.

With the playmaking quartet of Ben Black, Graham Holroyd, Thomas Coyle and Sean Penkywicz providing a wealth of attacking options, Miles Greenwood a constant menace at full back, 20 year old debutants Flanagan and Joe Walsh having great games up front and centre turned back rower Richard Varkulis in season's-best form, there was never really any doubt about the final outcome.

True, there were times when Fax overplayed, tempting Haven back into the game with the occasional flurry of unforced errors.

But when it mattered, they always had the horsepower to pull clear.

Twice Haven looked like they were getting a foothold in the game, once when centre Saia Makisi cut his side's deficit to 8-4 just before the half hour and again just after the break when centre Rob Jackson's try cut Fax's lead to 20-10.

On both occasions, the home side responded in devastating fashion: Varkulis and Ben Black both scoring at the end of the first period and Flanagan, Smith and Flanagan again all going over in the 12 minutes that followed Jackson's try.

It was that ability to shift up a gear apparently at will, coupled with some pretty uncompromising goalline defence, that will have pleased Calland most ahead of the trip to the Willows.

Fax had started strongly, with a great early move involving Walsh and Smith paving the way for James Haley's dash for the corner.

Haven got back on that occasion, forcing Haley into the flag, but a couple of minutes later Fax took the lead on the other flank, Lee Greenwood slipping past some wonky marker defence after Mike Ratu's charge had put Haven on the back foot.

Holroyd's conversion drifted wide in the swirling gale, but Fax might have doubled their lead immediately if Miles Greenwood had not been hauled back by eccentric French referee Thierry Alibert for running behind Shad Royston.

There were 12 minutes on the clock when Haven full back Gary Broadbent put his foot on the dead ball line as he tried to retrieve Holroyd's raking kick, conceding the drop out from which Black sent Smith strolling over for the his first try and an 8-0 lead.

Haven came more into the game as the half hour approached, with a couple of penalties and an uncharacteristic mix up between Miles Greenwood and Jon Goddard gifting the position from which, eventually, Makisi scored from Carl Rudd's cross kick.

Then Walsh's long ball found Black, who picked out the onrushing Smith for Fax's sixth try of the afternoon.

And straight from the restart, Flanagan's brilliant cut out ball sent Goddard haring away from Makisi on half way and the rangy loose forward backed up on the inside to take the scoring pass.

Holroyd goaled for 38-10 with a little over 20 minutes remaining and a cricket score beckoned.

The fact it never materialised was probably down to a few factors:

Haven's new found tenacity under Stokes, the increasingly foul weather conditions and, maybe, Fax turning one eye towards Friday night's blockbuster.

Yes, Fax will need to play better than this against Robbie Paul and co.

But no one should bet against them doing just that.

STARMAN
Richard Varkulis has been getting better and better in recent weeks.
But Halifax's versatile centre or back rower really hit top form yesterday with his most dominant performance of the season.
Varkulis started in the back row, switched to midfield to cover for James Haley's temporary absence with concussion and then finished back in the pack.
He scored one try, made another and produced another surging break that might have brought more reward.
But it was his aggressive defence that stood out as well.
One first half effort, which saw him hurl Haven's main man Carl Rudd around like a rag doll as he darted for the corner, was a real corker.
Varkulis takes three points in the season-long Star Man competition, with debutant loose forward Mark Flanagan taking two after a fine first start in senior rugby league.
Flanagan was into the action early, replacing Haley and produced a no nonsense first half tackling stint as Fax held Haven out for long periods.
It was in the second half he showed his class though.
His first try, diving on to a Graham Holroyd kick, must have been a great moment for the 20 year old.
But the pass that Flanagan then produced to set Jon Goddard free before backing up to score was worth the admission money alone.
The final point goes to another young player, Joe Walsh, who worked tirelessly to quell the threat of Haven's huge pack.
Playing in the front row, Walsh has the speed and mobility Fax have perhaps lacked in that area all year.

PLAYER POINTS
James Haley 13, Sean Penkywicz 12, Paul Smith 11, Graham Holroyd 11, Craig Kopczak 8, Andy Smith 8, Lee Patterson 7, Janan Billings 7, Jon Goddard 6, Shad Royston 5, Dana Wilson 5, Dave Larder 4, Richard Varkulis 4, Paul Southern 4, Miles Greenwood 3, Mike Ratu 3, Frank Watene 2, Andy Gorski 2, Mick Govin 2, Mark Flanagan 2, Joe Walsh 1

MATCH FACTS
Halifax: Miles Greenwood; James Haley, Jon Goddard, Mike Ratu, Lee Greenwood; Graham Holroyd, Ben Black; Paul Southern, Thomas Coyle, Joe Walsh, Paul Smith, Richard Varkulis, Shad Royston. Subs: Sean Penkywicz, Mark Flanagan, Danny Heaton, Frank Watene
Tries: Smith (2), Flanagan (2), Greenwood, Black, Varkulis
Goals: Holroyd (5)

Whitehaven: Gary Broadbent; Craig Calvert, Rob Jackson, Saia Makisi, Ade Adebisi; Carl Rudd, Gregg McNally; Karl Edmondson, Graeme Mattinson, Ryan MacDonald, Howard Hill, Scott McAvoy, Spencer Miller. Subs: Carl Sice, David Ford, Andy Gorski, Marc Jackson
Tries: Miller, Makisi, Jackson
Goals: Rudd

Referee: Thierry Alibert (Toulouse)
Attendance: 2,160

STAT ATTACK
Halifax
First half
Completions: 16/28
Penalties: 5
Second half
Completions: 19/25
Penalties: 5

Haven
First half
Completions: 18/22
Penalties: 5
Second half
Completions: 10/17
Penalties: 2

YOU SAY
great game fax still need to work on defence - nige
well done fax scored some great tries and tackled really well ! Lets do the same friday night and keep on top of the table ! ackers
Fantastic fax! Top o the league! U deserve it! Keep it up - Clare dooley & sharon bradley