Marshall keeps faith in 'class team'

Halifax RLFC coach Richard Marshall had mixed emotions after seeing his side lose 26-18 to Leigh Centurions at the MBi Shay.

Tommy Saxton’s sole score in the first half saw Fax leading 6-0 at the break, before the Lancashire side roared back in the second period with four tries.

“I thought we were very good in the first half and put Leigh under an immense amount of pressure.

“We spoke about carrying that momentum through in the second half but we only did it for certain periods,” said last season’s Championship Coach of the Year.

Marshall pin-pointed his side’s indiscipline in the second half, which ultimately led to sustained pressure from the away side.

“It needs to improve. We gave away a couple of penalties on the last tackle and it hurts you as a team when you’re working so hard.

“It’s not been too different to the last couple of weeks – but the opposition had a little bit to do with that.”

Sunday’s match saw the return of full-back Miles Greenwood, who has missed almost a full calendar year of action after a horror leg break injury against Featherstone Rovers last year.

Marshall was delighted with his contribution to the team: “Firstly I was really pleased Miles took to the field and played first grade for the club again.

“He epitomises someone coming through adversity and as a club we are suffering from a little bit of that ourselves.

“He was really solid today and led the team well, as well as being a top professional in the dressing room.”

Fax’s defeat makes it a third straight loss in the league after defeats to Batley and London, but Marshall is adamant his men are heading in the right direction.

“We are improving. There will be no rash changes as we are a new team. It’s important that I keep myself mentally strong and I am.

“I’m confident in the group of players in the dressing room.

“We have a class team – I know that. This group has bucket loads of integrity and honest and as long as I am coaching them those kind of ethics and morals then we’ll be fine.”