Tyrer excels as Halifax keep up the pressure on rivals at the top

On a day when Rovers and the Dons both won, Karl Harrison’s team were irresistible, racing to a 34-0 half time lead.

Former Super League centre Steve Tyrer bagged 24 points from two tries and six conversions, while half-backs Ben Johnston and Scott Murrell orchestrated a dominant attacking display.

Former Featherstone wing Tommy Saxton opened the scoring for Halifax, powering in after Johnston, Murrell, Wales back rower Ross Divorty and Tyrer had broken clear.

Tyrer added the extras before Ireland prop Luke Ambler backed up Divorty on 18 minutes to score his side’s second, Tyrer again converting, before Divorty scored one himself from Murrell’s pass.

Tyrer tagged on the extras and then leapt to claim Murrell’s kick, making it 24-0 with the conversion.

Luke Adamson then raced in, Tyrer kicking another conversion and then touching down on the final play of the half to make it 34-0 at the interval.

Former Wakefield three-quarter Danny Cowling picked up a loose ball and raced half the length of the field to score at the start of the second period, Tyrer’s kick bringing up the 40-point mark.

Murrell then put Ambler through a gap and then backed up to take the scoring pass before the prop charged in for a try of his own, Tyrer’s conversions making it 52-0.

Whitehaven finally gained scant consolation when their on-loan Wigan centre Chris Taylor touched down twice in the final minutes, Cain Southernwood converting both.

Halifax: Potts; Fox, Cowling, Tyrer, Saxton; Murrell, Johnston; Tonks, Mennell, Ambler, Robinson, Divorty, Adamson. Substitutes: Holden, Casey, Spencer, Bracek.

Whitehaven: Carr; Ainscough, Parker, Taylor, Calvert; Seymour, Southernwood; Jackson, Newton, Forster, McAvoy, Mitchell, Doran. Substitutes: Thorman, Walker, Robinson, Grayshon.

Referee: W.Turley.