MATCH REPORT | PANTHERS RETURN TO TABLE TOP WITH FEV WIN
Halifax Panthers made it 4 wins out of 4 with a commanding 38-12 victory over old rivals Featherstone Rovers to go back to the top of the Betfred Championship after firstly Barrow then Toulouse filled the top spot after their victories earlier in the weekend.
Jack Hansen was the star of the show, picking up the Man of the Match with 2 out of the Panthers’ 7 tries against a below par ‘Fev’ side who for most of the game, couldn’t live with Panthers pace and guile with ball in hand nor could show much in attack thanks to a ruthless, uncompromising defence from the hosts.
It took Fax less than 5 minutes to strike at a chilly, blustery Shay, as James Woodburn-Hall’s lovely disguised pass brought the outstanding Brandon Douglas rampaging onto the ball and bulldozing his way over Fev Full-back Louis Gorman for yet another important try after his last gasp effort to defeat York Knights a fortnight past. Louis Jouffret kicked his first goal of the afternoon to put Fax 6-0 up.
Fax showed their ruthless streak as they went back to back in terms of tries, on the last tackle Adam O’Brien spotted a gap on the blindside to race through upfield. He released Ben Tibbs who tried to kick through but the ball ricocheted off the Fev man into the hands of Adam Tangata who spun his way over. Tibbs soon went from provider to scorer as a lovely blindside move close to the line from Louis Jouffret created the space for Tibbs to touch down.
Derrell Olpherts managed to squeeze his way in at the corner for his customary try against Fax. However, the Panthers regained the initiative as Tom Inman’s lovely grubber kick into the Rovers ingoal area looked to have been grounded by both Inman and Hansen but it was the Fax No7 who got to it first according to referee Marcus Griffiths.
There were a few missed opportunities for Fax to stretch their lead but the crucial try did come right on the half time hooter. Brad Graham, who was superb once more filling in at Centre, gliding through a massive gap in the Rovers defence. 24-6 at half time and in any other game Fax would be home and dry but Featherstone have come from behind to win at The Shay far too many times and Connor Jones’ try just after the restart gave the Fev fans some hope but all of tthat was to go as Fax took control of the game to record a great victory.
Hansen grabbed his 2nd try after his constant peppering of Fev danger man Connor Wynne from the boot paid off as the ball was spilt and made its way into the half back’s hands to dive over the line to his own, the South Stand’s and everyone else’s delight!
The icing on the cake came late on as Jacob Fairbank’s beautiful no-look pass sent Adam Tangata through for the break but was stopped just short. With begging shouts coming from both left and right, Adam O’Brien decided to ignore them all and crash over himself from dummy half to start the celebrations of a continued 100% start, and back to the top of the Betfred Championship with a statement making victory, Halifax Panthers 38-12 Featherstone Rovers.
Halifax Panthers
Jouffret, Tibbs, B Graham, Crooks, Saltonstall, Woodburn-Hall, Hansen, Douglas, O’Brien, Dixon, McComb, Tangata, Fairbank
Subs: Inman, McCarron, Davies, Calcott (18th Man: Hird)
Tries: Douglas (4), Tangata (8), Tibbs (21), Hansen (30, 62), Graham (39), O’Brien (71)
Goals: Jouffret 4/7
Penalty: Jouffret 1/1
Featherstone Rovers
Gorman, Olpherts, Barley, O’Connor, Wynne, Aekins, Addy, Beckett, Jubb, Gardiner, Day, Hardcastle, Webb
Subs: Jones, Williams, Vuniyayawa, Tennison (18th Man: Gale)
Tries: Olpherts (14), Jones (47)
Goals: Gorman 2/2
#MatchReport #Panthers2025 #BAWA
[adrotate group=”1″]
