Cook's kick, the only point of a stalemate second half, may have decided the game, but it had precious little effect on Fax's chances of qualification for the knockout stages, with a home win over Championship One Hunslet at the weekend more than enough to guarantee their progression.

The result aside, there were still plenty of positives for a Fax side who only arrived in South Yorkshire at 7.15pm after a pile up on the M1, prompting the kick off to be put back closer to 8pm.

The visitors' defence was breached twice, once from a kick and once from close range, but otherwise was genuinely impressive against a side expected to be among the contenders when the Championship kicks off, with a rematch between these two, at the Shay in nine days' time.

Unusually, Fax's major problem was in attack, with Matt Calland's side failing to turn the pressure they had into scoring chances, and failing to turn the chances they did make into tries.

Fax never really got going in the middle of the field, which left half backs Luke Branighan and Anthony Bowman chasing up too many blind alleys on a gluepot pitch that had only been passed fit to play at 3pm.
The Eagles threatened first, with prop Mitch Stringer being held up over the whitewash five minutes in.

But it was Fax who scored a spectacular opener, Paterson showing anticipation and athleticism to not just pluck Brendon Lindsay's cross kick out of the air but to free Jon Goddard, who beat Johnny Woodcock in a 70 metre sprint down the touchline to score.

Paterson, still wearing the orange boots that had apparently been destined for a wheely bin, kicked the conversion and the visitors led 6-0.

Fax went close after that too, Royston just failing to get on the end of Branighan's grubber kick and Goddard being collared just short of the line after Bowman put Shad Royston into a gap on the left.

In the end though, it was the Eagles who drew level on 25 minutes, Bowman hesitating fractionally as he tracked Lindsay's grubber kick back towards his own line and Tangi Ropati - comfortably Sheffield's biggest threat - pouncing for the try.

The visitors continued to press: Goddard's flailing fingertips just failed to connect with Bob Beswick's cross kick and Stanley Gene made a bullocking break down the left flank before producing a grubber kick that forced a drop out.

But it was the Eagles who claimed the interval lead, Fax conceding a penalty on the Eagles' 30 metre line after failing to see referee Gareth Hewer wiping the tackle count clean.

Typically, Sheffield went down the other end, gained another set through a fortunate ricochet and Jack Howieson stretched over the line in the right hand corner.

Woodcock added a fine conversion for a 12-6 half time advantage, setting the scene for an error-strewn opening to the second period, during which both sides will have turned over too much possession for their coaches' liking.

Fax were hitting hard in defence - Stephen Bannister driving Misi Taulapapa into the turf with a terrific tackle and Penkywicz forcing an error from Woodcock 10 metres out from his own line - but struggled to find their usual fluency with ball in hand, producing a series of soft turnovers in the Eagles' 20 metre area.

The game was into the third quarter when Penkywicz and Haley carved out a half break for Goddard before the defence converged, Branighan was held up over the line and Penkywicz forced another drop out, only for Haley to be concede a second tackle penalty for not playing the ball correctly.

That let the Eagles off the hook, and Fax gave them another, pivotal, escape on 66 minutes.

On a night dominated by defence, a rare clean break from the stampeding Gene should have ended in a try. Instead, it ended with a Woodcock interception, with only a great chase by Paterson saving a score at the other end.

With nine minutes to go, Haley and Bannister were penalised for ball stealing, giving Woodcock a chance to effectively win the game.

The full back's kick looked good, but the flags stayed down, keeping Fax alive as the game edged to a conclusion.

In the end, it fell to Cook to seal matters, slotting over the one pointer a minute from time.

MATCH FACTS
Sheffield: Jonny Woodcock; Misi Taulapapa, Jason Mossop, Tangi Ropati, Ashley Thackeray; Brendon Lindsay, Dane McDonald; Jack Howieson, Craig Cook, Mitchell Stringer, Alex Szostak, Ged Corcoran, Joe Hirst. Subs: Matty Brooks, Michael Haley, Trevor Exton, Ryan Hepworth.
Tries: Howieson, Ropati
Goals: Woodcock (2)
Drop-goal: Cook

Halifax: Shad Royston; Lee Paterson, Jon Goddard, James Haley, Rob Worrincy; Anthony Bowman, Luke Branighan; Neil Cherryholme, Sean Penkywicz, David Wrench, David Larder, Stanley Gene, Bob Beswick. Subs: Mark Gleeson, Said Tamghart, Frank Watene, Stephen Bannister.
Try: Goddard
Goal: Paterson

Referee: Gareth Hewer (Whitehaven)
Attendance: 800

STARMAN
There was no shortage of fire in Halifax's bellies last night, and no one typified it more than Said Tamghart.

The French prop really shook things up, especially in defence, whenever he was on the field.

When you get past speed and skill, old fashioned physical intimidation is an important part of rugby league.

Tamghart gives Fax that, typified by one thunderous first half tackle that left his opponent flat out on the Don Valley Stadium's sodden turf.

Tamghart takes three points in the season-long Star Man competition, with hooker Mark Gleeson taking the two.

The former Warrington number nine, who was rested for last weekend's romp at London Skolars, got through a mountain of work in the middle of the field, always looked sharp when he chose to run the ball and passed with his usual crisp accuracy.

If Fax had managed to generate a little more midfield momentum, his impact would surely have been even greater.

The final point goes to Stanley Gene, who started the game in the back row, produced a couple of typical breaks down Fax's left flank and tackled with his usual ferocity.

He also found the time to put in a couple of useful tactical kicks, underlining that he is so much more than a bash-and-barge merchant.

PLAYER POINTS
Stanley Gene 4, Said Tamghart 4, Sean Penkywicz 3, Mark Gleeson 2, James Haley 2, Anthony Bowman 2, Rob Worrincy 1