Halifax 28 Sheffield Eagles 48: 9-try Eagles in flying start to Championship campaign

Sheffield Eagles produced a stunning away performance to maintain their good recent form after a 28-48 victory over Halifax.
Scott Wheeldon scored three tries for Eagles. Photo: Dean AtkinsScott Wheeldon scored three tries for Eagles. Photo: Dean Atkins
Scott Wheeldon scored three tries for Eagles. Photo: Dean Atkins

Mark Aston’s improving side produced another eye catching display to start the end of season Championship Shield fixtures in style.

They ran in nine tries in a confident performance, which underlined Aston’s earlier statements that his side are good enough to win the competition.

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On this form the Eagles are a good bet, and they now look a totally different proposition to the side that were walloped at The Shay back in June.

They made a bright start when Scott Wheeldon arrived with momentum to carry the ball over the whitewash on the last tackle, with Cory Aston converting.

The early optimism then took a blow as the home side responded with two quick tries through Luke Ambler and Adam Tangata, with Gareth Moore slotting both conversion attempts.

Aston’s side retained their composure and reduced the deficit when Quentin Laulu-Togagae completed a swift move down the left following Aston’s pass, but Aston pushed the conversion wide.

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Eagles hit the front on 17 minutes when Stan Robin’s bomb was collected by former Fax winger Rob Worrincy, who then avoided the clutches of Will Sharp to squirm over the line. Aston nailed the conversion.

Gareth Moore responded with a try for the hosts, which he converted but the lead was short lived as a mistake from the hosts gave possession back to Eagles. The visitors took full advantage with a short pass from Keal Carlile finding the onrushing Adam Neal who crashed over. Aston converted.

The tries continued to rain in with Aston showing a clever dummy before forcing over the line, but he missed a difficult conversion. Then Laulu-Togagae made a decisive break before his pass on the inside found Robin who showed great composure to step over to score. Aston converted.

Despite losing George Tyson to injury, there was no let up after the break as Garry Lo took advantage of some poor defending to score in the corner, but Aston missed a tough conversion.

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The home side dragged themselves back into the game with Tangata’s second try, converted by Moore, before James Saltonstall scored in the corner just before the hour, but this time Moore missed the extras.

After soaking up some intense pressure, the Eagles sealed victory with two quick-fire tries from Matt James, and brilliant individual effort from Lo, and Aston converted both to make it back-to-back victories for the Eagles.

Halifax: Johnston, Sharp, Heaton, Barber, Saltonstall; G. Moore, Murrell; Cahalane, Kaye, Boyle; Bennion, Tangata; Ambler. Interchange: R. Moore, Butler, B. Moore, Morris.

Scorers: Tries: Ambler (5), Tangata (8, 51), G. Moore (25), Saltonstall (57) Goals: G. Moore 4/5

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Eagles: Laulu-Togagae, Worrincy, Yere, Chappell, Lo: Robin, Aston; Thorpe, Carlile, Wheeldon; James, Straugheir; Margalet. Interchange: Tyson, Fozard, Neal, Mexico.

Scorers: Tries: Wheeldon (3), Laulu-Togagae (14), Worrincy (17), Neal (27), Aston (31), Robin (37), Lo (47, 72), James (71), Goals: Aston 6/9

Referee: Andy Sweet

Attendance: 1,228