Fax's winning run continues Nicholas McGee reports

Friday 30th July 2010

Story in brief:
Man of the Match Luke Branighan

Halifax moved back up to 2nd place in the Co-Operative Championship with a 30-16 win over the Widnes Vikings in an enthralling and fiery contest.

It was a vital victory for Halifax as they look to cement the runners-up spot in the competition and set up a clash with Featherstone Rovers in the play-offs. On the other hand Widnes will be bitterly disappointed to have been denied at least a bonus point as they try to beat Toulouse and Batley to the final play-off spot.

Both sides had spells of possession in the opposition half in the first 10 minutes whilst the amount of big hits proved to be a preview of things to come.

It was Widnes who struck first, loose forward Ben Kavanagh managing to break free from the Halifax defence to just place the ball over the line; Danny Craven added the extras to give the visitors an early six point lead.

Clearly enjoying the better of the first half the Vikings extended their lead as a long looping pass out wide was collected by winger Paddy Flynn who dived over Widnes' second try, Craven again adding the extras to double their advantage.

Halifax then came close to hitting back, substitute Frank Watene almost having an instant impact. The prop forward jinked past one defender before just being stopped short of the line before being penalised for a double movement.

Smelling blood, Halifax ramped up the pressure, and after repeat sets on the Widnes line they duly got their reward, Sean Penkywicz squeezing over the line from a quick tap penalty after Widnes had been penalised for a high tackle in the previous attack.

Fax's tails were well and truly up and an expertly placed 40-20 kick by Luke Branhigan gave them the chance to level and it was a chance that they seized, a power play on the last tackle paying off as Ben Black put Shad Royston through a massive hole in the Widnes defence with a clever delayed pass to take the full back's try total to 24 for the season. Paterson again adding the two points to tie the scores up.

Despite dominating the latter part of the first half Halifax were not able to find a way through as a stubborn Widnes defence held firm against the Fax onslaught and the two sides went into the break all square.

Halifax continued their march into the ascendancy in the second half, Rob Worrincy stopped short of the line after Fax forced Widnes into a drop out within the first five minutes of the second period.

However it wasn't long until they did take the lead for the first time in the game and they did so in a rather unconventional manner Worrincy palming a Luke Branhigan kick down into the arms of Dylan Nash who then flung a basketball pass into the grasp of Branhigan to run in for the try. Paterson converting the try from out wide to give Fax a six point advantage.

The home side then extended their lead, Sean Penkywicz seizing on a Sam Barlow offload to touch down from close range for his second try of the contest. The try was once again converted as Lee Paterson maintained is 100% goal kicking record for the evening.

Paterson then added a penalty to give Halifax some clear breathing room and take the Vikings out of bonus point territory.

Fax, eager to put the rubber stamp on a victory, forced the Vikings into a succession of drop outs as an obviously tired Widnes defence worked desperately to try and keep themselves in the game. Widnes, to their credit, did hold Halifax out and were able to get themselves back in contention, Mark Smith flinging out a long pass for winger Dean Gaskell to dive over and cut the deficit.

Danny Craven failed in his conversion attempt, and Widnes soon saw their good work undone Ben Black's chip through cleverly dribbled and collected by Sean Penkywicz who touched down for his hat-rick to re-establish Fax's three score advantage, Paterson also missing with the conversion attempt.

The game then erupted in violence as a brawl between Dylan Nash and Dean Gaskell spilled over onto the sidelines with all 26 men from both sides involved. Nash and Gaskell were sin binned for their involvement and Sam Barlow was yellow carded too for his part in the melee. The incident was also placed on report.

It was to be a black spot on a otherwise brilliant evening for Halifax as they jumped above the Leigh Centurions to go back up to second place in the Co-Operative Championship table.

Halifax: Shad Royston, Lee Paterson, Jon Goddard, Dylan Nash, Rob Worrincy, Luke Branhigan, Ben Black, Neil Cherryholme, Bob Beswick, Michael Ostick, David Larder (captain), David Wrench, Sam Barlow.

Subs: Sean Penkywicz, Frank Watene, Dominic Maloney, Stephen Bannister

Tries: Penkywicz (3), Royston, Branhigan

Goals: Paterson (5)

Sin Bin: Nash

Sent Off: Barlow

Widnes: Danny Craven, Paddy Flynn, Stefan Marsh, Matt Gardner, Dean Gaskell, Chris Gerrard, Thomas Coyle, Jim Gannon, Mark Smith, Daniel Heckenberg, Kurt Haggerty, David Allen (captain), Ben Kavanagh.

Subs: David Houghton, Tom Kelly, Steve Pickersgill, Kirk Netherton.

Tries: Kavanagh, Flynn, Gaskell
Sin Bin: Gaskell

Goals Craven (2)

Referee: M. Drizza

Att: 2,707