Halifax shock Eagles to reach final again

northern rail cup: Halifax booked their place in a second successive final with a dramatic second-half comeback and a 24-22 win that left hosts Sheffield Eagles reeling.

Last year’s beaten finalists coped better with a rain-soaked Don Valley pitch and will meet Featherstone Rovers to dispute the trophy later this month.

Sheffield dominated the first half but Fax came back in the second period with forward Sam Barlow and half-back Anthony Thackeray leading the charge.

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Eagles opened the scoring when Simon Brown’s kick bounced back off a Fax player into the hands of second row Michael Knowles, who went over.

Hooker Andrew Henderson, who was leading the Eagles’ charge, went over from dummy half and winger Scott Turner took a high kick from Dominic Brambani to touch down.

Fax finally found a way through the Sheffield defence with full-back Ryan Fieldhouse running onto Paul Handforth’s pass.

Brown, who had converted the three Eagles tries, missed a penalty but Eagles went in 18-4 ahead at half-time.

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Ten minutes after the restart Handforth’s kick was collected by ex-Eagles winger Rob Worrincy for a try. Steve Tyrer added the goal.

Sheffield’s lead disappeared as scrum-half Anthony Thackery went between the posts and Tyrer added the goal and subsequently a penalty to level the scores.

Fax took the lead when winger Wayne Rettie touched down. Tyrer added the goal.

With four minutes left Knowles dived over for a try but Brown could not add the goal from the touchline.

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Sheffield Eagles: Laulu-Togagae; Turner, Yere, Taulapapa, Morrison; Brown, Brambani; Howieson, Henderson, Stringer, Knowles, Scott. Hirst. Substitutes: Smith, Straugheir, Green, Higgins.

Halifax: Fieldhouse; Worrincy, Tyrer, Paterson, Riettie; Handforth, Thackeray; Gannon, Penkywicz, Ambler, Manning, Robinson, Ashall. Substitutes: Bowman, Casey, Barlow, Aizue, Ashall.

Referee: R Laughton (RFL).