Halifax 46 Barrow Raiders 24: Nightmare week ends with revenge victory

HALIFAX ended a traumatic week on a positive note by winning a rematch of last season's Co-operative Championship Grand Final against Barrow.

After being thrown out of the Challenge Cup for fielding the ineligible Michael Ostick in a fourth-round tie Matt Calland's side responded with their best performance of the season.

They got the perfect start, with second rower Stephen Bannister twisting over after good work by half-back Ben Black with winger Lee Paterson converted.

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The visitors levelled on nine minutes when Andy Ballard raced over by the posts for Jamie Rooney to convert. Rooney added a penalty and then kicked a booming 40-20 that allowed Richard Fletcher to power over on the left flank to make it 12-6.

Halifax replied through Australian full-back Shad Royston, Paterson converting, and then went ahead when Stanley Gene stormed in on 24 minutes, with Paterson again on target before he added a penalty shortly before the break.

After the restart, Rob Worrincy picked off a Barrow pass on his own 10-metre line and sprinted the length of the field to score under the posts. Paterson kicked the goal for 26-12 and before Jon Goddard touched down a couple of minutes later. Further Halifax tries came from Bob Beswick, Luke Branighan and Paul White with Ned Catic and Chris Young replying for the visitors.

Halifax: Royston; White, Paterson, Nash, Worrincy; Branighan, Black; Watene, Penkywicz, Wrench, Larder, Bannister, Gene. Substitutes: Goddard, Beswick, Tamghart, Aizue

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Barrow Raiders: Broadbent; Ballard, Catic, Harrison, McGillvary; Rooney, Campbell; Bracek, Mossop, Roberts, Knowles, Fletcher, Luisi. Substitutes: Young, McDermott, Noone, Butler

Referee: R Hicks (Oldham).

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