Halifax retained their Wheelchair RL Challenge Cup crown with a convincing 92-48 victory over the Leeds Rhinos, in front of a big crowd in Huddersfield on
The Rhinos got off to a bad start as Halifax raced to an early 32-point lead. Robert Hawkins scored Fax’s first try of the game and this was quickly followed by a try each for Nathan Holmes and Nathan Mullhall.
England captain Jack Brown scored his first two ties of the game, before setting up England teammates Wayne Boardman and Nathan Holmes.
The Rhinos did get off the mark when Ryan Richardson, who continued to work hard and press the Fax defence, was rewarded for his persistence with two well-worked tries as the Rhinos started to reduce the arrears.
Brown scored three more tries, taking his tally to five, before Luis Domingos reduced the deficit to 46 points with his first try of the game.
He got the ball on the wing and he brilliantly held off two Fax defenders before squeezing the ball over the line.
England captain Jack Brown was influential as Halifax retained the Challenge Cup
Leeds Rhinos were floored by a fast start from Fax. The second half started well for the Rhinos – Richardson again influential as the Rhinos scored two more tries, completing his hat trick, while helping Ewan Cibbens go over.
But Fax were still 44 points up and, despite a late flurry from the Rhinos, where Richardson scored two more tries, as well as James Simpson and Neil Harper scoring a try each, Halifax closed out the game with a sixth try of the game for Brown and a fourth try of the game for Mullhall, to retained the Challenge Cup and they take another step to remain unbeaten all season.
The Man of the Match award was awarded to Jack Brown of Halifax. His medal, along with the medals for the winners and runners up, were handed out by RFL Chief Executive Nigel Wood.
After the game, Leeds Rhinos coach Martyn Gill admitted: “We definitely did not start well.
“I think some of the players let the occasion get to them a little bit and they lost focus, but when they got the focus back we played really well.
“We also missed Josh Butler and Tom Haliwell today. Tom has been a very consistent performer, and he has been the first name I have put on the team sheet every time we play. So with him not playing today did make our job much bigger.”
Meanwhile, in the winning camp, Man of the Match Jack Brown was impressed with the performance of his teammates following a difficult league game a few weeks ago: “I was particularly impressed with young Robert Hawkins today.
“He normally plays on the wing for us and, although he did score a great try today, he put in a great defensive display. I was also impressed with the professionalism of Wayne Boardman. Although he did have a couple of knock-ons, it didn’t affect his passing and his drive to help the team win the game.”
Final Score: Halifax 92 Leeds Rhinos 48
Leeds Rhinos
James Simpson, Jodie Boyd-Ward, Ryan Richardson, Ewan Cibbens, Luis Domingos, Neil Harper, Tony Godward, Nathan Collins.
Halifax
Jack Brown, Stewart Walker, Nathan Holmes, Nathan Mulihall, Wayne Boardman, Gavin Dobson, Annabelle Hawkins, Robert Hawkins, Joseph Batchelor, Andy Atkinson, Thomas Martin.
Referees: Steve Abel, Kim Abel, Stuart Naylor, David Abel