Halifax retain Wheelchair RL Challenge Cup

Correspondent

Halifax retained the Wheelchair RL Challenge Cup with an emphatic win over Leeds Rhinos at Huddersfield on Saturday afternoon.

Fax ended up winning 92-48, after forging an early 32-point lead.

England skipper Jack Brown was very much to the fore for Fax, and won the Man of the Match award after grabbing five tries.

Speaking after the game, Leeds coach Martyn Gill rued his side’s poor beginning to the game.

“We definitely did not start well,” he said.

“I think some of the players let the occasion get to them a little bit and they lost focus, but when they got the focus back we played really well.

“We also missed Josh Butler and Tom Haliwell today. Tom has been a very consistent performer, and he has been the first name I have put on the team sheet every time we play. So with him not playing today did make our job much bigger.”

Halifax’s Man of the Match Jack Brown felt his team’s ability to show professionalism when needed was crucial to their victory.

“I was particularly impressed with young Robert Hawkins today,” he said.

“He normally plays on the wing for us and, although he did score a great try today, he put in a great defensive display. I was also impressed with the professionalism of Wayne Boardman.

“Although he did have a couple of knock-ons, it didn’t affect his passing and his drive to help the team win the game.”

Halifax 92 Leeds Rhinos 48

Leeds Rhinos

James Simpson, Jodie Boyd-Ward, Ryan Richardson, Ewan Cibbens, Luis Domingos, Neil Harper, Tony Godward, Nathan Collins.

Halifax

Jack Brown, Stewart Walker, Nathan Holmes, Nathan Mulihall, Wayne Boardman, Gavin Dobson, Annabelle Hawkins, Robert Hawkins, Joseph Batchelor, Andy Atkinson, Thomas Martin.

Referees: Steve Abel, Kim Abel, Stuart Naylor, David Abel