Fax well beaten as Eagles continue perfect start
Halifax Panthers were shut out at home as they suffered a heavy 46-0 defeat to Sheffield Eagles in Betfred Championship round five last Sunday.
Eagles maintained their perfect record in the league, running in eight unanswered tries, including two apiece for James Glover and Ben Jones-Bishop, as Fax were soundly beaten.
Liam Finn’s men were hoping to return to winning ways following an inconsistent start to the season. But three tries in 12 first half minutes gave them a mountain to climb.
Aaron Murphy was the first to go over after receiving a short ball at the line before Glover got his first of the afternoon after James Saltonstall's attempt to knock the ball dead went wrong.
Jones-Bishop spun his way over for try number three, while try number four arrived just before the hooter through the same man.
While Fax had their chances, Sheffield were proving clinical with theirs.
It got worse for Fax five minutes after the restart when Vila Halafihi went over from dummy half before Matty Marsh, on the back of consistent pressure, stepped through a big hole in the Fax defence after throwing a dummy.
Former Halifax man Kyle Wood got on the try sheet after collecting a kick from Jones-Bishop before the Panthers’ misery was completed with Glover’s second with two minutes remaining.
It was a similar chastening experience for Dewsbury Rams who lost 50-22 at Swinton Lions.
However, the visiting fans did have four tries from Curtis Davies, Owen Restall, the returning Brad Graham and Travis Corion to cheer.
Featherstone Rovers claimed a second straight win at home to previously unbeaten Widnes Viking but they had to achieve it in a dramatic late fashion.
Gareth Gale and Brad England gave Featherstone the perfect start before Max Roberts got the visitors on the board. However, Corey Hall scored a crucial try on the half-time hooter to make it 16-6.
And Rovers started the second half like they ended the first as Brad Day forced himself over to extend the lead to 22-6.
However, a double from Ryan Ince either side of a Jack Owens try incredibly put the Vikings in front at 22-24 only for Wynne’s dramatic double late intervention to seal a memorable 32-24 triumph.