Halifax battle to narrow win

Rugby Union - Halifax v Skipton. Tony Curtis for Halifax.

The third meeting of the pair this season was every bit as tight as expected but home player-coach Giles Hetherington thought his side had executed their game plan perfectly.

“We were aware that they would try to run the ball from everywhere but we worked very hard on defence - every player was colossal.”

Second-placed Halifax led 6-0 at half time with a penalty from scrum half Richard Cole and a drop goal from Hetherington.

Skipton hit back with an unconverted try and added a second and a penalty later.

However, Halifax shaded the verdict with a fine try from winger Elliott Hoyle, after they had moved the ball well, and a second drop goal from Hetherington.

The Ovenden Park men showed good control to protect their narrow lead in the closing 15 minutes.

Hetherington, who spent 10 minutes in the sin-bin for what the referee regarded as deliberate knock-on, added: “It was a huge win for us because it puts eight points between us.”

Halifax were the only one of Calderdale’s six rugby union clubs in first team league action yesterday.