THE race for top spot in the Co-operative Championship is wide open tonight after Halifax turned in a Jekyll and Hyde performance to lose 50-42 in an action-packed clash with Whitehaven at the Shay.
The good news is that Matt Calland's former table toppers, who were booed off at half time and trailed 44-10 with only 26 minutes left to play before surging back to claim an improbable bonus point, only drop to second after Widnes lost at Feathersto
ne.
But they are joined on 36 points by Widnes, Barrow and Haven, with Rovers and Sheffield Eagles - who host Fax on Thursday night - all on 33 as the competition builds to a thrilling conclusion.
Calland's players, looking to avert a third successive defeat, fell behind early on to a Craig Calvert try, goaled by Carl Rudd.
And although Fax got off the mark with a David Larder touchdown, the visitors stretched their lead when winger Derry Eilbeck scored on 17 minutes, Marc Jackson adding the extras.
Calvert grabbed a second on 24 minutes after scooping up a loose pass on his own line, before Eilbeck grabbed a second, converted by Jackson, for a 22-4 scoreline after half an hour.
Paul Smith pulled a try back for Fax, but touchdowns from Jamie Theoharous and Karl Edmondson, both converted by Leroy Joe, left the home side with a second half mountain to climb.
The omens were not promising when Andy Thornley scored for Whitehaven within seconds off the kick off, with Calvert grabbing a second to push the score out to 42-10.
Haven added a penalty before James Haley scored a chip and chase solo effort to cut the gap to 44-16.
Another penalty put Haven 46-16 ahead, before a frenzied finale which yielded tries for Haley, Rob Worrincy, Shad Royston, Jon Goddard and Sean Penkywicz as Fax cut the gap to 46-42 with two minutes remaining.
They might have snatched victory when Lee Paterson burst through, but a knock on at the play the ball saw Calvert race the length of the field for the match-clinching score.
