Fax bounce back with comfortable win over Barrow

Richard Marshall’s side went into the game under fire after back to back losses to Oldham and Toulouse, but responded with a controlled performance to distance their Cumbrian visitors.

Marshall, who takes his side to Dewsbury on Monday (3.0), even had the luxury of being able to rest captain Scott Murrell, hooker Brandon Moore and back rower Shane Grady in the final quarter as a 16-4 half time lead blew out to a matchwinning 24-4 by the 53rd minute.

The home side had made an inauspicious start, losing the kick off and handing Barrow an early attacking chance.

They resisted that comfortably enough, and with young back rower Chester Butler and prop Will Maher leading the way, they slowly established something approaching a territorial advantage.

That paid off when Elliot Morris slid on to a ricochet from Scott Murrell’s short kick to score, Steve Tyrer converting for a 6-0 lead after 13 minutes.

That doubled five minutes later when Murrell hoisted the ball to the left and Tyrer caught it two handed high above his head, span over the line and touched down before adding an excellent sideline conversion.

At 12-0, Barrow struck back, Gene Ormsby stepping inside Ed Barber to score, but the conversion was missed.

With Fax rolling forward with increasing efficiency as the half wore on, Tyrer then kicked two penalties to push the interval lead out to 16-4.

Tyrer added a third penalty after the break, before Fax scored their third try, Ben Johnston splitting the line and the excellent young forward Sion Jones backing up to claim the try, Tyrer converting for a 24-4 lead.

Young winger Conor McGrath raced away to score from an Ed Barber interception with 13 minutes to go, Tyrer converting.

Halifax: Sharp; McGrath, Tyrer, Barber, Saltonstall; Murrell, Johnston; Morris, Kaye, Maher, Butler, Grady, Fairbank. Subs: Moore, Jones, Douglas, Fleming

Barrow: Carter; Loxam, Hulme, Ormsby, Toal; Fieldhouse, Marwood; Riley, Parata, Susino, Morrow, Holmes, While. Subs: Mossop, Crellin, Duffy, Walker

Referee: Liam Staveley