Finn delighted with Panthers’ opening day win at Rams

Halifax Panthers’ head coach Liam Finn said he was “delighted” after his side got their Championship season off to a winning start at Dewsbury Rams - the club he guided into the division in 2023, writes Adam Cheshire.

Finn said after the win: “I am delighted. It’s two points on the league table and that’s what we came for. It sets us off on the right foot.

“We had to dig deep defensively and we spent a long time on our try line as Dewsbury threw a lot at us in terms of numbers and people in motion. We had to be on it defensively.

“Weconcededonetryoffa kick and one try from dummy half. The one from dummy half is disappointing. But it was a massive defensive effort and a massive shift on a tough afternoon in heavy conditions.

“Both teams looked a bit leggy from the start but I thought Dewsbury were really good value for being in the game and it could have gone either way at one point.”

Fax responded well after Calum Turner’s high kick was expertly caught and touched down by Perry Whiteley, with Louis Jouffret going over.

They also fought back in the second half after the Rams’ Jacob Hookem scooted over from dummy half with Joe Keyes and Jouffret going over in the space of five minutes after Jackson Walker was sent to the sin bin.

“It was definitely a test of character,” confirmed Finn.

“Everybody is aware that there are a lot of tough trips away in the Championship and none tougher than this one in terms of adjusting from your own field to this one.

"There are a couple of others that you have got to adjust for."