Brave Halifax Panthers beaten on Championship return by leaders London Broncos

Victory for many inside the ground came last Tuesday when it was announced that the RFL had granted membership to a new Fax club, who managed to field a 17 that pushed the unbeaten Broncos all the way in their first game back despite the resulting 4-42 scoreline.

The squad included four loanees - an indication that the rugby league family were more than happy to help the Panthers back on their feet. And that was emphasised further when Alfie Lindsey, on a week-on-week loan from Castleford Tigers, scored the first points of the new Fax era just after half-time.

It was greeted with the loudest cheer of the day. And while the home side may have been 0-22 down before that due to four unanswered first half tries, they continued to battle after the visitors continued to pull away out of sight.

The size of Fax’s task was highlighted after only three minutes when Jack Croft breezed over for the Broncos - who recorded a record-breaking 106-18 win over North Wales Crusaders last time out.

But the Panthers gave as good as they got. Jesse Soric, one of the 14 Fax players who stayed on after it was announced the old club would be liquidated just over three weeks ago by the High Court, broke clear after a great run which allowed Lindsey to go close over on the far side. Zack McComb then ran clean through to lift fans’ spirits.

However, London delivered a sucker-punch with Liam Tindall waltzing through from deep inside his own half and scoring a fine solo try.

Back came Fax with vigour as a couple of penalties in quick succession gave them renewed hope. There was further hope when Darius Carter was held up on the line as the home side grew ever-closer to the try-line.

It was a great little spell of pressure but another bitter pill arrived when Finley Glare went over for his first of the afternoon to make it 0-16.

It was just over the halfway stage of the first half but to put Fax’s effort into context, London had already scored seven tries at the same point last weekend.

Fax, who started the game on minus 10 points due to the 12-point deduction handed to them by the RFL, were then denied a try in front of the raucous South Stand by a forward pass before Gairo Voro twisted and stretched over four minutes before the break.

Then came, arguably, the moment of the day as the first points of the new Fax era arrived in the near corner courtesy of Lindsey.

The excellent Morea Morea silenced the home crowd by crossing on the far side moments later, before Brandon Webster-Mansfield added another as London went back-to-back.

Fax refused to go down fighting. A tackle into touch exploded the South and East stands back into life before Will Calcott was held up on the line at the other end.

There was still time for Glare to grab his second try before Epel Kapinias rounded off the scoring.

But with 2,062 people through the turnstiles witnessing a brave display, there are positive signs that this new Halifax Panthers outfit can be competitive once again in the Championship.

Halifax: Moy, Lindsey, McComb, Carter, Tibbs, Soric, Lawford, Okoro, O’Brien, Calcott, McCarron, Fairbank, Forster

Interchanges: Davies, Halafihi, Salabio, Cowen

Tries: Lindsey

London: Morea, Tindall, Webster-Mansfield, Davidson, Tchamambe Djeukam, Voro, Meadows, Stock, Davies, Kapinias, Smith, Croft, Havili

Interchanges: Glare, Adebiyi, O’Beirne, Hursey-Hord

Tries: Croft, Tindall, Glare (2), Voro, Morea, Webster-Mansfield, Kapinias

Conversions: Meadows (2), Croft, Voro (2)

Attendance: 2,062