Halifax do enough to see off rivals Rochdale

The visitors took an early lead, with half-back Danny Yates kicking a penalty after referee Gareth Hewer had marched Fax downfield.

But the home side hit the front on 16 minutes when half-back Ben Johnston found Shane Grady cutting back against the defence and the back rower broke the line before returning the favour with a scoring pass.

Steve Tyrer converted and was lining up another – albeit unsuccessful – attempt five minutes later when Johnston again found Grady, who flicked the pass outside this time for Tyrer to touchdown in the corner.

That’s how it remained until the break, with Hornets reduced to 12 men after full-back Chris Riley was sin-binned for holding down the dangerous Grady.

The home side continued to dominate after the interval, scoring their third try when Ed Barber slipped a pass out of a three man tackle and Will Sharp scored from point blank range, Tyrer converting.

And they were in again on 55 minutes, Scott Murrell scuttling clear down the right and Adam Tangata collecting the scoring pass. Tyrer’s kick opened up a decisive 22-2 lead, but Fax never really managed to hammer home their clear advantage, although Tyrer skipped clear late on and put Simon Grix over before tapping over the conversion.

Halifax: Sharp; Heaton, Tyrer, James Woodburn-Hall, Worrincy; Murrell, Robinson; Cahalane, Moore, Murray, Grady, Grix, Fairbank. Substitutes: Morris, Boyle, Barber, Tangata.

Rochdale: Riley; Penny, Holmes, Galbraith, Massam; Palfrey, Yates; Tahrauoui, Maneely, Hand, Smith, Crowley, Middlehurst. Substitutes: Greenwood, Moran, Hadden, Case.

Referee: G. Hewer (Whitehaven)..