YOU could have criticised Halifax for all sorts of things at various stages of this Co operative Championship opener: their passing, their kicking, their tactics, their defence.
But you could not question their bottle after Matt Calland's side, who looked dead and buried when Sheffield went 26-12 up 11 minutes into the second half, kicked the lid off the coffin in a compelling last quarter to snatch a victory they just about deserved.
Two tries in two minutes with a little less than half an hour remaining from full back Shad Royston, who had already scored once before the break, both converted by Lee Paterson, hauled Fax back into the contest at 26-18.
- Watch a slideshow of pictures from the game
Then Paterson, whose early season kicking form had been uncertain to say the least, held his nerve to level the scores with a penalty 10 minutes from time.
And it was left to hooker Sean Penkywicz to crown the comeback, the little hooker twisting over from close range by the posts after debutant prop Makali Aizue produced a thunderous charge and a clean, quick play the ball.
Paterson added the extras and Fax, who had already staged one comeback, fighting back from 12-0 down to grab a share of the lead at half time, only had to close out a tense last five minutes to claim the three points.
It was a glorious conclusion that had looked highly unlikely for most of the game as the Eagles, who adapted far better to the appalling pitch conditions, looked the more accomplished side.
Fax weren't particularly poor individually, although some were better than others, but they were below-par collectively.
There were reasons for that: the lack of games, the lack of training, the fact half backs Luke Branighan and Ben Black, who both looked off the pace here, had only played 20 minutes together before yesterday.
And they will undoubtedly be better for having come through a match as hotly contested as this one with their confidence intact.
The plus points were some fine individual performances, particularly from the three props Calland started on the bench, Frank Watene, Dominic Maloney and David Wrench, the tireless loose forward Bob Beswick and Rob Worrincy and Royston in the back line.
The die was cast early, with Sheffield winning the right to play the ball that little bit quicker, even though it was Fax - through David Larder and Black - who carved out the early half chances.
Sheffield took the lead on 13 minutes, hooker Craig Cook selling a huge dummy from point blank range and touching down by the sticks, prop Mitchell Stringer - kicking in the absence of the axed Johnny Woodcock - adding the conversion.
And things went from bad to worse within 60 seconds, stand off Brendon Lindsay's kick stopping dead on the gluepot surface in the in goal, fooling all the chasers apart from Woodcock's replacement at full back, Ashley Thackeray, who pounced for the try.
Stringer's goal left Fax 12-0 down, a deficit that would have been 18-0 had Jon Goddard not pulled off a last ditch tackle on Thackeray in midfield as the Eagles soared from the restart.
The visitors were still dominating and pressing for a third try just before the half hour, only for Worrincy, who was in great form all game, to pick off Dane McDonald's pass on Fax's right flank and sprint 70 metres to score by the posts.
Paterson converted to put the home side back in the game and three minutes before half time they struck again, Black sliding in a neat grubber kick that sat up perfectly for Royston to score.
Paterson kicked Fax on level terms at the interval, but whatever the content of Calland's team talk, it seems unlikely it mentioned conceding a penalty and then a try straight from the kick off.
That was exactly what happened though, Trevor Exton sending the hugely dangerous Menzie Yere over in the corner.
Tangi Ropati tagged on the goal, and followed up with a scorching break down the left that sent Lindsay haring for the line, only for the stand off to lose the ball in the act of scoring under tremendous pressure from Paterson.
Branighan's high tackle gave Ropati the chance to open an eight point advantage at 20-12, and when Yere burst clear for his second, Stringer adding the goal this time, it looked suspiciously like game over at 26-12.
But just when they looked like fading away, Fax burst into life.
Royston scored his second after Black and Stanley Gene ripped Sheffield open on half way, and promptly added another with a brilliant finish after a great short pass from Watene.
With Paterson converting both, Fax were suddenly within two points at 26-24.
Three successive drop outs followed, with Sheffield holding out admirably, helped by a bizarre intervention from the touchjudge who appeared to think Fax had too many players on the field, prompting a delay of several minutes while referee Jamie Leahy successfully counted to 13. Twice.
But just when the visitors were probably thinking it was going to be their day, Said Tamghart was given a whack round the chops by Ged Corcoran, Paterson drawing Fax level with the boot.
The irate Frenchman's decision to get up swinging earned him a sin-binning, meaning Fax had to play the last 10 minutes with 12 men.
That didn't matter to Penkywicz though, who finally pulled the game out of the fire.
MATCH FACTS
Halifax: Shad Royston; Lee Paterson, Jon Goddard, James Haley, Rob Worrincy; Luke Branighan, Ben Black; Makali Aizue, Sean Penkywicz, Said Tamghart, David Larder, Stanley Gene, Bob Beswick.
Subs: Mark Gleeson, Dominic Maloney, Frank Watene, David Wrench.
Tries: Royston (3), Worrincy, Penkywicz
Goals: Paterson (6)
Sin bin: Tamghart, 70, fighting
Sheffield: Ashley Thackeray; Misi Taulapapa, Menzie Yere, Tangi Ropati, Richie Barnett; Brendon Lindsay, Dane McDonald; Jack Howieson, Craig Cook, Mitch Stringer, Alex Szostak, Ged Corcoran, Joe Hirst.
Subs: Peter Green, Trevor Exton, Sam Barlow, Ryan Hepworth
Tries: Thackeray, Yere (2), Cook
Goals: Stringer (3), Ropati (2)
Referee: Jamie Leahy (Dewsbury)
Attendance: 2,139
STARMANThere were a few factors behind Halifax's comeback yesterday, but Frank Watene was one of the biggest.
The Kiwi prop was one of three front rowers on the bench as Matt Calland went prop-crazy to compensate for the pitch conditions.
And Watene was at his blockbusting best with the ball in hand, turning in a string of storming runs as Fax finally started rolling forward.
There were some nice skills on show too, particularly the short pass that sent Shad Royston storming clear for his hat trick try.
Watene's form earns him three points in the season-long Star Man competition, with Royston himself taking the two.
The Australian full back had a difficult job on his hands early on, as Sheffield's kicks in open play stopped dead on the mixture of sand and water that passed for a pitch.
But he warmed to his task quickly, looking safe at the back and returning the ball strongly.
Then there were the tries. Royston's skill is that he makes scoring look easy, when it's clearly anything but.
The final point goes to a former Eagle, Rob Worrincy, who looked as dangerous with the ball as anyone on the field.
His interception score aside, Worrincy made plenty of ground and always threatened to break the Sheffield line.
PLAYER POINTSStanley Gene 4, Said Tamghart 4, Sean Penkywicz 3, Frank Watene 3, Shad Royston 2, Mark Gleeson 2, James Haley 2, Anthony Bowman 2, Rob Worrincy 2
YOU SAYtoo many mistakes did not start by playing the conditions but improved on the roll brilliant execution at times sheffield defence brilliant duncan i
great comeback penky destroys the seagulls blunder
got out of jail fax rubbish stop trying the big hits and just tackle nige
what a great game ! Well hung in there fax ! From ackers
