FORUMS FORUMS






RLFANS.COM
Celebrating
25 years service to
the Rugby League
Community!

  

Surprise play-off package Whitehaven came into their game against the heavily fancied Halifax Panthers on the back of some scintillating form. Despite Halifax ending the season in third and Whitehaven in sixth there was very little to choose between the two sides over the duration of the regular season with honours shared in the two regular rounds games, Whitehaven winning the most recent meeting just a fortnight ago.

Halifax were the favourites for the win, and to secure a game against Featherstone Rovers next weekend having been given a six point handicap on the coupon, but Whitehaven knew that they were more than capable of springing a surprise which would see them booking their flights to Toulouse.

Scott Grix, making his last appearance at the New Shay for Halifax set up a great opportunity with a fourth minute 40-20 and on the fifth tackle Conor McGrath strolled over in the right corner after an expansive passing move. The conversion drifted wide of the posts, but it was the ideal start for the Panthers on the back of a great piece of Grix skill.

‘Fax were in again on ten with Matt Garside taking an Adam Tangata pass to go through a gap from five metres out. James Woodburn-Hall took over the kicking duties and added the conversion for 10-0 with eleven minutes on the clock.

After being up against it for the opening twenty Whitehaven finally got on the scoreboard on twenty-one when Liam Cooper picked up a ball which was squeezed out in the tackle to score from a metre out. Louis Jouffret added the conversion to narrow the arrears to four points.

What had looked like it would be a one-sided encounter after the early exchanges had turned into a real battle between two evenly matched sides, but Halifax were about to strike with a double whammy before the interval.

With five minutes remaining the Panthers extended their lead after a great Worthington show-and-go and break and an accurate pass inside to Woodburn-Hall to sprint in from forty metres out for a terrific try, Liam Harris kicked the extra two as the scorer received treatment under the sticks.

One minute before the half-time hooter Garside punished a Whitehaven ball loss when he took a Harris pass to run the angle and score, Grix being instrumental in the build-up. Harris added the conversion for 22-6 as the hooter sounded. It was a long way back for ‘Haven.

On forty-four Whitehaven grabbed their second try of the game with a Chris Taylor offload over the Halifax line which was picked up and grounded by Andrew Bullman on the line. Lachlan Walmsley pushed his kick wide of the far upright, Whitehaven now two converted tried behind.

On fifty-two Ryan King went in for the third ‘Haven try as he brushed aside four tacklers to crash over the line and get the ball on the ground. Walmsley was again unable to add the conversion, the visitors now eight adrift.

Conor Robinson extended the Halifax lead on sixty-two with a penalty goal, but the lead was still ten points, there was still some scope for a Whitehaven fightback.

As the clock ran down the visitors became increasingly desperate and the home side increasingly determined.

With a minute remaining Bullman got his second of the game, diving over in the corner despite the attentions of three defenders. Jouffret added the conversion for 20-24 with under sixty seconds left on the clock.

The final hooter sounded as Grix booted the ball out of play in his own goal area as the Cumbrians went down despite an heroic second half fightback.

It wasn’t the walk in the park that Halifax would have hoped for before kick-off, Whitehaven putting in a tough and rough eighty minutes but not being able to maintain their own fairy tale for an additional week. A couple of quick tries for the Panthers won the game which now sees them take on Featherstone Rovers next weekend for a position in the Million Pound game.

Halifax Panthers: Woodburn-Hall (T, G), Saltonstall, Worthington, McComb, McGrath (T), Grix, Harris (2G), Tangata, Moore, Murray, Kavanagh, Garside (2T), Fairbank. Subs: Larroyer, Davies, Morris, Robinson (G).

Whitehaven: Walmsley, Bulman (2T), Taylor, Dixon, Mossop, Jouffret (2G), Williams, Thornley, Newton, Graham, King (T), Cooper (T), Wilkinson. Subs: Aiye, Bradley, Dawson, Walker.

Half-Time: 22-6.

Full-Time: 24-20.

Referee: Chris Kendall.

Score Progression: 4-0, 8-0, 10-0, 10-4, 10-6, 14-6, 16-6, 20-6, 22-6 : HT : 22-10, 22-14, 24-14, 42-18, 24-20: FT.



facebook sharing button
twitter sharing button
pinterest sharing button
email sharing button
sharethis sharing button


Posted by RLFANS News Hound on Sat 25th Sep 2021 7:25 PM | Views : 33113 | Replies : 0 | BACK TO STORIES
RLFANS Recent Posts
FORUM
LAST
POST
TOPIC
POSTER
POSTS
1m
2024 Southstandercom Prediction Competition Week 6
rhinosTY
36
5m
York - 14th April
wakeytrin
1
11m
Rd 6 I Cas A
The Biffs Ba
25
19m
No grade A for 2025 for Trinity
PopTart
27
39m
WIRE YED Prediction Competition Catalans Home
Wanderer
17
Recent
Ky Rodwell
Start@1873
106
Recent
Smith - should he stay or should he go
Steve0
353
Recent
21 man Squads - Devils v Leopards
Deeeekos
3
Recent
The official Leon Hayes Thread
Smiffy27
18
Recent
Saints a
Mark_P1973
22
FORUM
LAST
VIEW
TOPIC
POSTER
POSTS
40s
The Bulls away
terry silver
9
48s
Smith - should he stay or should he go
Steve0
353
52s
The Good Friday Derby Massacre
ComeOnYouUll
126
54s
Smith out ASAP
Backwoodsman
138
1m
Halifax H
Maccbull_Big
32
1m
Saints a
Mark_P1973
22
1m
21 man Squads - Devils v Leopards
Deeeekos
3
1m
WIRE YED Prediction Competition Catalans Home
Wanderer
17
1m
Ky Rodwell
Start@1873
106
2m
Squad for Catalan
Smiffy27
17
FORUM
NEW
TOPICS
TOPIC
POSTER
POSTS
TODAY
York - 14th April
wakeytrin
1
TODAY
Stats article
Sir Gregory
5
TODAY
21 man Squads - Devils v Leopards
Deeeekos
3
TODAY
Squad for Catalan
Smiffy27
17
TODAY
The Wigan Way - New Podcast - Chairman Special
Jukesays
1
TODAY
Dons v Swinton Lions 30 June 2024
Wanderer
1
TODAY
Squad for Sheffield
AdamH
1
TODAY
London Away
Fartown58
1
TODAY
The Bulls away
terry silver
9
TODAY
The official Leon Hayes Thread
Smiffy27
18
TODAY
Saints a
Mark_P1973
22
TODAY
Leon Ruan signs on loan
Jemmo
2
TODAY
Wardle
Jo Jumbuck
3
TODAY
Huddersfield - Home
Fartown58
6
TODAY
Max Wood on loan to Bradford 2 weeks
rubber ducki
7
TODAY
Jake Wardle 5 Year deal
Zig
22
TODAY
No grade A for 2025 for Trinity
PopTart
27
TODAY
Cup Quarter Final TV Arrangements
RLFANS News
1
TODAY
Rd 6 I Cas A
The Biffs Ba
25
TODAY
WIRE YED Prediction Competition Catalans Home
Wanderer
17
TODAY
Spare Tickets Friday
post
4
NEWS ITEMS
VIEWS
Cup Quarter Final TV Arrangeme..
512
2024 Challenge Cup Quarter Fin..
634
Easy Does It For The Dragons A..
559
Warrington Demolish London For..
667
Leigh Leopards Beat Plucky Fea..
710
Saints Triumph Over Disappoint..
690
Easy Win for the Wolves Over L..
936
Dragons Condemn Castleford To ..
908
Leigh Leopards Secure First Po..
1055
St Helens Tame The Rhinos To W..
1026
Wigan Warriors Come From Behin..
1077
Betfred Championship and Leagu..
1070
2024 Challenge Cup Sixth Round..
3844
Featherstone Win Extra Time Cu..
1190
Dragons Triumph Over Hull FC t..
1067
RLFANS Match Centre
Matches on TV
Table 'boards.stats_fixtures' doesn't exist