Super Halifax hit Sheffield with 10-try blitz

Richard Marshall’s side, so impressive against Rovers in the Summer Bash, were arguably even better here as they ripped Mark Aston’s full timers to shreds down the middle.

With their forwards dominant from almost the first whistle, Halifax led 24-4 at the break before completing the job comprehensively in the second half, half back Gareth Moore and back rower Matt Sarsfield both scoring hat tricks.

The home side made the ideal start, scoring in their first set of possession after the Cook Islands forward Adam Tangata ripped through some shoddy midfield defence to score from 30 metres out.

Centre Steve Tyrer kicked the conversion for a 6-0 lead and Halifax almost scored again immediately, full back Miles Greenwood touching down a Scott Murrell kick before being rightly adjudged offside.

Sheffield got a lifeline on 11 minutes when Ben Blackmore scooped up a loose pass on his own 20 metre line and raced the length of the field to score, Cory Aston unable to add the goal.

But the home side were soon back in their stride after Moore touched down following surging runs from Ben Heaton and Dane Manning.

Tyrer converted and was on target again when Sarsfield, so impressive since arriving on loan from Salford, backed up James Saltonstall for an 18-4 lead after 27 minutes.

Sheffield went close again through Yere, and their defence then denied Luke Ambler and Ben Johnston in quick succession at the other end.

But there was no denying Halifax’s first half excellence, Moore crowning it with a typical show-and-go score on the left, Tyrer’s kick making it 24-4 at the break.

The second half was a procession, begun by Will Sharp’s try three minutes after the restart, Tyrer converting.

Sarsfield then scored twice in two minutes as the Eagles rickety defence began to creak and although the visitors scored twice in quick succession through Matt James and Ryan Millar, both converted by Cory Aston, they collapsed completely as Greenwood, Moore and Jacob Fairbank all romped over.

Tyrer converted all three to complete an immaculate kicking display.

Halifax: Greenwood; Saltonstall, Heaton, Tyrer, Sharp; G. Moore, Murrell; Cahalane, Kaye, Tangata, Manning, Sarsfield, Fairbank. Subs: Johnston, Ambler, R. Moore, Boyle

Sheffield: Laulu-Togagae; Worrincy, Yere, Blackmore, Millar; Aston, Jacks; Wheeldon, Carlile, Neal, Knowles, Tyson, James. Subs: Mexico, Minchella, Blagbrough, Hewitt