Derby win sees Finn enjoy first return to Dewsbury
It was a happy return to Dewsbury Rams for Liam Finn as Halifax Panthers opened their 2024 Championship season with a 24-10 victory at FLAIR Stadium.
Fax had to come from 4-0 and 10-6 behind but two tries in the space of five second half minutes from Joe Keyes and Louis Jouffret – when the Rams had Jackson Walker sent to the sin-bin – proved to be a decisive turning point.
The Rams took the lead in the 13th minute. Jacob Hookem went close along with former Fax star Matt Garside. But, on the last play in the same set, Calum Turner produced an exquisite high kick which was caught splendidly by Perry Whiteley who outjumped James Saltonstall to touch down.
The first sign of a Panthers response came through Greg Eden who was dragged into touch when he was found by Ben Tibbs.
Fax’s next set saw them progress magnificently up the field from deep within their own half before Jouffret crashed over. He converted his own try to give the visitors a slender 6-4 lead.
It was the Rams who started the second half the better team, though, as another crossfield kick from Turner caused mayhem but his teammates could not ground the ball over the line.
They then took full advantage when Fax’s Jacob Fairbank
was sent to the sin-bin following an incident which resulted in Hookem requiring treatment.
Hookem was soon back on his his feet and he got the Rams back in front, scooting over from dummy-half.
But the game’s decisive moment was on the horizon. With their full complement of 13 players all on the pitch, Walker was sent to the sinbin as Woodburn-Hall was stopped on the line with a very high tackle.
And they made their own man advantage pay with Keyes squeezing through a gap to level the game before Jouffret converted to edge them in front.
In the blink of an eye, 1210 was soon 18-10 as Jouffret got his second try, barging over from dummy-half, and his third conversion.
And Fax sealed an opening day win through Woodburn-Hall right on the hooter, with Gareth Widdop claiming his first points for his hometown club with the conversion.