Halifax 28 Batley Bulldogs 36: Handforth spoils fightback as Halifax lose ground on top six

HALIFAX faltered in their pursuit of the top six Co-operative Championship clubs after the narrowest of home defeats by Karl Harrison’s Batley.

In a nip-and-tuck contest, the second-placed Bulldogs dominated the first half to lead 22-10 at the break.

But Fax, inspired by captain Sean Penkywicz, stormed back into the contest after the break, levelling at 24-24 before a Rob Worrincy interception finally gave them the lead at 28-24 with 16 minutes to go.

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A Johnny Campbell try, which exploited Fax’s frail right side defence with alarming ease, tied things up at 28-28 giving Bulldogs half back Paul Handforth the chance to regain the lead from the sideline.

Handforth, the former Wakefield half back who was the most dangerous attacker on the field by some distance, stepped up and nervelessly hammered over the conversion to leave Fax chasing a two-point deficit with around three minutes remaining.

Matt Calland’s side gave it a go, Dylan Nash regaining possession from Danny Jones’s short kick-off, but when Sam Barlow lost possession in front of the posts attempting to offload, the chance – and the game – were gone.

Danny Maun’s late try, again scored on Fax’s right, gave the scoreline a rather lopsided look that neither side really deserved after a match that was rarely less than absorbing.

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Halifax had begun well enough, Worrincy and Jones forcing early drop outs on a sweltering afternoon when possession was always likely to be a key factor.

Alex Bretherton’s ninth-minute score, which he also converted, was matched when hooker Bob Beswick forced his way over from close range on 13 minutes, Jones kicking the goal for 6-6.

But Batley replied with tries from Bretherton, Ash Lindsay and Alex Brown, Handforth converting twice, to open up a 22-6 lead.

The home side grabbed a lifeline when Black and Dylan Nash, who had seemed on different wavelengths until that point, finally combined for the Australian centre to touchdown, Jones converting.

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Fax emerged refreshed with tries from Penkywicz and Jones, the latter adding an equalising penalty. Handforth added a penalty for Batley.

Four minutes later Fax were in front for the first time in the game, Worrincy pouncing for a try. Crucially, Jones’s kick drifted just wide, leaving a chink of light that Batley exploited.

Halifax: Greenwood; White, Paterson, Nash, Worrincy; Jones, Black; Gannon, Beswick, Cherryholme, Clayton, Bannister, Fairbank. Substitutes: Penkywicz, Larder, Barlow, Smith.

Batley: Campbell; Reittie, Walton, Maun, Brown; Handforth, Pal Mennell; Smith, Lythe, Potter, Manning, Bretherton, Lindsay. Substitutes: Hesketh, Robinson, Buttery, Flanagan.

Referee: T Roby (RFL).