We paid the price for part time status: Boss
Halifax coach Richard Marshall admitted his side’s parttime status was a factor in Friday night’s 44-16 Challenge Cup reverse at Wakefield. Fax were in the contest against James Webster’s Super League outfit for long spells and were only 22-16 adrift until the 60th minute, when a Craig Hall solo try sparked a late landslide of points.
“The full time factor told towards the end,” said Marshall, who will now need to get his side ready for a crucial Championship fixture against Sheffield at Doncaster on Sunday (4.15).
“Probably two thirds of our squad were at work the day before; on roofs, cleaning windows, whatever.
“If I’m being honest, that’s what got us in the end because you can’t prepare or train as they can.
“That’s not an excuse, just the reality.
“They racked up a few points towards the end, which I didn’t feel was a reflection of our performance or our attitude within the game.
“I was disappointed with that, but we went toe to toe with a Super League side there for 60 minutes, so there are plenty of positives too.”
Despite their current status as the top flight’s whipping boys, the Wildcats still had the edge in attack, with Australian half backs Tim Smith and Jacob Miller combining with Hall and former Leeds dangerman Ali Lauititi to offer a constant threat.
“Lauititi had a great game and Tim Smith really bossed them around the park,” said Marshall, who revealed his own dangerman, the young full back James Saltonstall, had been nursed through the second 40 minutes after pulling his hamstring.
“But I thought Scott Murrell was outstanding in that first half; his kicking game was great and he really got us organised.
“Our shape and our plays were good, but we probably didn’t give ourselves enough chances to put them on.
“James Saltonstall tweaked his hamstring in the first half; not badly enough to come off, but badly enough to leave him on one leg in that second half.
“It meant he didn’t offer the same running threat and probably wasn’t a reflection of how he’s been playing.”
The cheeky face popped round the London dressing room door the other Saturday to say hello. It’s 13 years since Jamie Thackray last played for Halifax and he is one of the last members of a Halifax team to win a home Super League game still playing professionally.
Thackray had three good years at the Shay between 2000 and his departure for Castleford at the end of 2002.
His arrival came during the reign of Steve Ferres as football manager at Halifax. One of Ferres’s briefs was to recruit good, young English talent and his two main captures were Thackray from Hunslet and Rob Roberts from Hull.
The victory in question was against Wakefield on Sunday 15th September 2002.
Fax won 28-20 but the pressure was off as they were safe from relegation after a 34-26 over Salford the previous week.
Tony Anderson had only been in charge for three weeks and the win over Wakefield was achieved without some of the club’s biggest names. Missing were Gavin Clinch, Stuart Donlan, Jim Gannon, Brett Goldspink, Colum Halpenny and Johnny Lawless.
Halifax were trailing at halftime 12-16 but restricted Trinity to two goals in the second half when tries from Beckett and Woods in the last 18 minutes sealed matters.