PANTHERS 6-19 BULLDOGS | THE LOWDOWN

PANTHERS FALL AT THE FIRST HURDLE IN THE CHALLENGE CUP

The Panthers crashed out of the Challenge Cup at the first hurdle against a well organised Bulldogs side at the Shay Stadium leaving Simon Grix a frustrated figure meaning the Panthers now have to wait 12 days to try bounce back when we kick off our Betfred Championship campaign at home to the Broncos.

The first half saw both sides evenly matched with the Panthers coming close on numerous occasions with Brandon Moore closest to opening the scoring after being held up just short of the Bulldogs line after some nice play from Ed Barber released the captain.

Jacob Fairbank was denied by a last ditch Luke Hooley tackle after the forward was sent clear through the middle with the try line in sight.

Batley then applied some pressure of their own with the Panthers being penalised for a block by Conor Mcgrath on the chasing Bulldogs defender after a Ben White kick leaving the Bulldogs the chance to open the scoring with Morton converting the penalty to edge the away side in from 0-2.

The Bulldogs then extended their lead after some nice play down the right side by Logan who found Morton on his inside to score the game’s first try and the try scorer then added the extras 0-8.

HALF TIME  – HALIFAX PANTHERS 0-8 BATLEY BULLDOGS 

The Panthers started the second half brightly with strong carries from Springer and Larroyer moving the home side up the field and Springer then came close with a power play but was just held up short as the Panthers still searched for some points on the board.

After some sustained pressure from the home side the Bulldogs then launched an attack of their own with ex Fax player Ben White sending over a huge cross field kick which resulted in  Kieran Buchanan beating Saltonstall to put another ex Fax player Jodie Broughton in at the corner but this time Morton couldn’t add the extras leaving the Panther with it all to do trailing 0-12.

Two minutes later the home side finally got back in the game with Scott Grix joining in the fax attack before putting a chip over which Nick Rawsthorne getting to the ball first before sending Matt Garside over who had to spin twice to ensure the ball was grounded before Connor Robinson added the extras 6-12.

The game then turned scrappy with both sides conceding unforced errors until another ex Fax player Ben Kaye burrowed his way over with a trademark try to put the Bulldogs clear and in touching distance of the second round leaving the score 6-18 after a successful Morton conversion.

The victory was sealed for the Bulldogs in the 78th minute with yet another former Fax player Ben White doing the damage, this time converting a drop goal leaving the home side with an impossible task with just 2 minutes on the clock.

FULL TIME  – HALIFAX PANTHER 6-19 BATLEY BULLDOGS 

PANTHERS LINE UP 

Grix, McGrath, Rawsthorne, Woodburn-Hall, Saltonstall, Harris, Robinson, Calcott, 

Moore (C), Murray, Garside, Barber, Larroyer.

Cu. Davies, Springer, Fairbank, Co. Davies

MATCH OFFICIAL 

Ben Thaler

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