Sheffield 26 Halifax 6: Ruthless Eagles make wasteful visitors pay

Former Halifax winger Rob Worrincy, twice, Menzie Yere and Cory Aston all crossed as Mark Aston’s side turned a 0-0 half-time stalemate into a match-winning 20-0 lead. It was a remarkable reversal of fortunes, with the first half a tale of missed chances for Richard Marshall’s visitors.

Winger Will Sharp could not find Steve Tyrer with the line open, prop Mitch Cahalane could not reel in Luke Ambler’s offload in front of the posts and half-back Gareth Moore twice split the line without finding support.

The Eagles had their moments too, Aston and Michael Knowles both being held up over the line, but Halifax winger James Saltonstall had a try ruled out for a forward pass, before setting up full-back Ben Johnston for a seemingly certain score, only for the full-back to slip inches from the whitewash.

Halifax began the second half with another disallowed try, for Ryan Maneely, but it was Sheffield who took the lead on 42 minutes through Rob Worrincy’s unconverted try.

They doubled their advantage on the next set, Menzie Yere scoring from a high kick, but again the kick went wide.

But when Aston dived on the ball to score a third, Knowles obliged to make it 14-0 with 48 minutes played before Worrincy’s converted second put Sheffield 20-0 ahead. A late touchdown from Elliott Minchella, converted by Knowles, sealed victory before Sharp’s late consolation try converted by Tyrer.

Sheffield: Laulu-Togagae; Worrincy, Yere, Tyson, Blackmore; Aston, Hewitt; Wheeldon, Carlile, Neal, Knowles, Straugheir, James. Subs: Fozard, Stringer, Mexico, Minchella.

Halifax: Johnston; Sharp, Smeaton, Tyrer, Saltonstall; G. Moore, Murrell; Ambler, Kaye, Cahalane, Manning, Barber, Fairbank. Subs: Tangata, Maneely, R. Moore, Robinson.

Referee: C. Kendall (RFL).