Fax beat Rochdale to clinch Super 8s Qualifiers spot

Richard Marshall’s part-timers, who have edged big-spending Leigh and a more fancied Featherstone side out of the picture, led 22-0 at the break before closing things out in the second half.

The home side were solid rather than spectacular early on, content to grind out their sets and keep Hornets penned in their own half.

But once they took the lead on the quarter hour, loose forward Simon Grix exchanging passes with Jacob Fairbank and then twisting out of a three man tackle to score, the visitors’ early enthusiasm waned rapidly.

Steve Tyrer converted and was on hand again a couple of minutes later when Grix returned the favour, winning the penalty from which Fairbank burst through to score.

And 12-0 rapidly became 16-0 when young Chester Butler twisted over in the corner after Tyrer and Ben Heaton had done the damage down the left flank.

Fax remained patient, scarcely threatened by a tame Rochdale attack, and added a fourth try before the break, Tyrer touching down and converting after Butler and Kieren Moss had done the damage.

Rochdale began the second half with more urgency and got some reward when Lewis Hatton touched down, Tyler Whittaker converting.

But if there were any doubts in the minds of Marshall’s players, they were quickly dispelled as a Tyrer penalty, tries from Kieren Moss and Ben Kaye, both converted and a late penalty brought the curtain down on a remarkable Championship season.

Halifax: Moss; Heaton, Tyrer, Woodburn-Hall, Sharp; Murrell, Johnston; Maher, Kaye, Fairbank, Barber, Butler, Grix. Subs: Jones, Moore, Morris, Fleming

Rochdale: Kay; Lepori, Cross, T. Adamson, Massam; Smith, Yates; King, Whittaker, Moran, L. Adamson, Mitchell, Hatton. Subs: Taira, Ryan, Gregory, Talatoka

Referee: J. Smith