Moore and Sarsfield hat-tricks as Halifax demolish sorry Eagles

With their forwards dominant from almost the first whistle, Halifax led 24-4 at the break before completing the job in the second half, Gareth Moore and Matt Sarsfield both scoring hat tricks.

The home side made the ideal start, scoring in their first set of possession after Adam Tangata ripped through shoddy midfield defence to score from 30 metres.

Steve Tyrer kicked the conversion and Halifax almost scored again immediately, Miles Greenwood touching down a Scott Murrell kick before being rightly adjudged offside.

Sheffield got a lifeline when Ben Blackmore scooped up a loose pass and raced the length of the field to score, Cory Aston unable to add the goal.

But the home side were soon back in their stride after Moore touched down following runs from Ben Heaton and Dane Manning.

Tyrer converted and was on target again when Sarsfield backed up James Saltonstall for an 18-4 lead after 27 minutes.

Sheffield went close again through Yere, and their defence denied Luke Ambler and Ben Johnston in quick succession.

But there was no denying Halifax’s first-half excellence, Moore crowning it with a typical show-and-go score on the left, Tyrer’s kick making it 24-4 at the break.

The second half was a procession, begun by Will Sharp’s try, Tyrer converting.

Sarsfield then scored twice in two minutes as the Eagles’ defence began to creak and although the visitors scored twice in quick succession through Matt James and Ryan Millar, both converted by Aston, they collapsed as Greenwood, Moore and Jacob Fairbank all romped over. Tyrer converted all three to complete an immaculate kicking display.

Halifax: Greenwood; Saltonstall, Heaton, Tyrer, Sharp; G. Moore, Murrell; Cahalane, Kaye, Tangata, Manning, Sarsfield, Fairbank. Substitutes: Johnston, Ambler, R. Moore, Boyle.

Sheffield: Laulu-Togagae; Worrincy, Yere, Blackmore, Millar; Aston, Jacks; Wheeldon, Carlile, Neal, Knowles, Tyson, James. Substitutes: Mexico, Minchella, Blagbrough, Hewitt.