Halifax Panthers beaten at home by Sheffield Eagles

Fax were looking for a second successive victory at The Shay after seeing off Dewsbury Rams last Sunday.

But the Eagles soared to relatively win after scoring tries at vital times. A dominant start gave the visitors a 10-0 lead, which was narrowed when Owen McCarron went over. But a Jordan Abdull penalty and another try just before the half-time hooter gave Sheffield a healthy cushion at 18-4.

That soon turned to a 22-4 lead nine minutes into the second half, and although the Panthers reduced the deficit with tries from Ben Tibbs and Alfie Johnson, a Billy Walkley try and another Abdull penalty sealed a 28-14 win for Craig Lingard’s men.

An early penalty put Fax on the back foot immediately allowing the visitors to get them decent field position. And they took full advantage with Joe Brown going over for the first points of the evening.

Fax errored soon after when an offload didn’t come off before Abdull forced the home side into conceding a goal-line drop-out.

Kyle Eastmond’s men did well to keep Ryan Millar out but the pressure was mounting and it told when Millar was not to be denied a second time to make it 10-0.

The Panthers got on the board when Will Brough kicked to the corner which was somehow kept in by Tibbs who knocked the ball down for McCarron.

But an Abdull penalty and Lewis Peachey’s try three minutes before the hooter gave the Eagles a commanding 18-4 lead at half-time.

Walkley’s effort just after the restart gave Sheffield an 18-point lead although a quick-fire double from Tibbs and Johnson got Fax right back into the contest at 22-14.

But Walkley’s second pushed the visitors out of sight.

Fax then had a try ruled out for obstruction before Abdull completed the scoring with another penalty.

Halifax: Brough, Johnson, Carter, McComb, Tibbs, Soric, Lawford, Salabio, Halafihi, Gittens, Fairbank, McCarron, Calcott

Interchanges: Curtis Davies, Connor Davies, Forster, Fishwick