Halifax Panthers 14 Bradford Bulls 10: Struggling hosts confirm safety in throwback derby

Fax helped launch the competition and traded blows with the cream of English rugby league in the early years, finishing as high as third in 1998.

The club fell short in the play-offs but could look back on a memorable season that featured a double over local rivals and defending champions Bradford Bulls.

Sadly, that is as good as it has got for Halifax in the summer era with relegation in 2003 signalling the start of an interminable stay in the second tier.

Now Fax are simply in survival mode after hitting financial difficulties to continue a worrying trend across the sport.

The Panthers raised enough money to stave off a winding-up petition from the HMRC and pay players and staff overdue wages but remain in a perilous position with up to £150,000 required before the end of 2024 to keep the club afloat.

The fans answered a recent rallying call to help keep the wolves from the door and they came out in force in the rain on Sunday afternoon to boost the coffers in the final home game of the year against the Bulls, a club that went to the brink themselves.

The 3,285-strong crowd were treated to a throwback derby that may just have reminded supporters of a certain age of the Super League tussles between the rivals.

The thrills and spills continued way beyond the full-time hooter with three cards issued in a remarkable period.

After two premature celebrations, third time was a charm for Halifax as their Championship safety was finally confirmed.

As well as delivering a rip-roaring battle on the field, the fixture provided a reminder of rugby league's spirit with the Bradford supporters travelling in numbers to aid Fax's cause.

Such was the extent of their financial troubles, the Bulls – who won four Super League titles before their demise – were liquidated in 2017.

It has been a slow recovery for the fallen giants but they can finally see the bright lights of Super League on the horizon.

While next season is likely to come too soon for a return to the top tier through the new grading system, they remain in a strong position to attack the play-offs and show they are ready on the field despite Sunday's setback.

Bradford were guaranteed third place before the trip to The Shay but will know a big improvement is required to challenge Wakefield Trinity and Toulouse Olympique.

Former Hull FC back-rower Jayden Okunbor, who is back on the wing where he spent most of his NRL career, spurned an early opportunity when he failed to ground Lee Gaskell's kick to the corner and Fax took full advantage of the let-off.

The hosts broke the deadlock through a Louis Jouffret penalty and had an early two-score lead after Jacob Fairbank crashed over under the posts.

Jayden Myers lost the ball reaching for the line as Bradford's frustrations continued but they quickly steadied themselves to wipe out Fax's advantage.

Harvey Makin, who only arrived at the ground 15 minutes before kick-off due to the M62 closure, powered his way over before Myers atoned for his earlier spill with a neat finish out wide.

The teams spent the rest of the half trading errors in worsening conditions and tensions threatened to boil over in a fiery start to the second period.

A penalty for a high shot gave Jouffret an opportunity to level the scores but he pulled his attempt wide to the delight of the travelling supporters.

Roared on by an increasingly enthusiastic home crowd, Fax continued to dominate and eventually restored parity when Jouffret accepted a second invitation from a penalty in an incident that saw Mitch Souter sin-binned for repeated team offences.

The home side remained on the front foot against 12 men and gave their supporters the try they craved, James Saltonstall sliding over in the corner after good work by Gareth Widdop and James Woodburn-Hall.

Max Lehmann and Franklin Pele were denied by desperate last-ditch defence as Fax dug deep to defend their lead in a frantic finish.

The full-time hooter sparked wild celebrations but a penalty was awarded and a mass brawl followed on the next play to prolong the agony for Halifax.

After Ed Barber saw red and Souter and Adam Tangata were sin-binned, Fax survived one final raid to give their fans a win to savour.

Halifax Panthers: Woodburn-Hall, Saltonstall, Widdop, Barber, Graham, Jouffret, Keyes, Larroyer, Johnson, Fairbank, Hursey, Davies, Gee. Substitutes: O'Brien, Tangata, Kavanagh, Boyer.

Tries: Fairbank (12), Saltonstall (61)

Goals: Jouffret 3/4

Sin bin: Tangata (80)

Red card: Barber (80)

Bradford Bulls: Holmes, Okunbor, Myers, Gill, Lehmann, Gaskell, Lilley, Makin, Souter, Bayliss, Fulton, Appo, Lawrence. Substitutes: Scurr, Pele, Ott, Davies.

Tries: Makin (19), Myers (22)

Goals: Lilley 1/2

Sin bin: Souter (57, 80)

Referee: Matty Lynn.