Championship: Halifax Panthers v Batley Bulldogs LIVE

Of course, today marks the first time former Fax captain Brandon Moore, who led the Panthers to 1895 Cup glory against Batley, return to The Shay since moving to the Bulldogs at the end of 2023.

I’m just glad I’m in relative safety - towards the back of the East Stand, although you can most certainly still feel the strong breeze! Batley are now out doing their pre-match prep away to my right.

Storm Kathleen is making her presence known this afternoon! The heavy gusts of wind have been joined by a swirling rain. You wouldn’t want to be a full-back today!

The home side come out on to the Shay turf for their warm-up and get a great reception from the fans who have already taken their seats or standing position in the South Stand.

Mark Moxon has made a couple of tweaks to the side which lost to local rivals Dewsbury Rams on Good Friday. Johnny Mitsias replaces George Senior at centre, Robbie Butterworth comes in at full-back with Elliot Kear, who started at full-back last Friday, moves to scrum half in place of Dave Gibbons. Nyle Flynn comes onto the bench for Joe Gibbons.

And this is how the Bulldogs line up:

Butterworth, Morton, Mitsias, Buchanan, J Burton, White, Kear, Gledhill, Leak, Cooper, Manning, Walshaw, Moore

Interchanges: Brown, O Burton, Flynn, Ward

With Greg Eden injured, Zach McComb moves to the wing with Ben Tibbs coming into centre. Kieran Hudson picked up a knock in the defeat at Bradford Bulls and is replaced by Jacob Fairbank who returns from suspension.

Here is how Fax line up this afternoon:

Woodburn-Hall, Saltonstall, Tibbs, Smith, McComb, Widdop, Jouffret, C Davies, Gee, Kavanagh, Larroyer, Inman, Fairbank

Interchanges: Keyes, Tangata, Lannon, O Davies

Hello and welcome to our live blog of today’s Championship game between Halifax and Batley! Whether you are following on the Courier website or on the Reporter Series website, we will bring you all the major updates from this Round 3 league fixture. Kick off is at 3pm.