HALIFAX PANTHERS 64 LEEDS RHINOS 24
PHIL CAPLAN, Belle Vue Leisure Centre, Manchester, Sunday

HALIFAX duly completed their double treble with an ultimately convincing Grand Final win, outstanding Jack Brown leading the way with six sensational tries.

Leeds provided more of a test than in their emphatic defeat in the Challenge Cup final in July, enjoying good spells at the start of each half, but couldn’t cope with the speed of Rob Hawkins, who crossed three times in the first half and added their eleventh and final touchdown.

The Panthers were unchanged from their semi-final victory over London, while Rhinos skipper Jodie Boyd-Ward was on the bench in their sole alteration from the win over Wigan the week before, Nathan Mulhall starting in possibly his last game.

Leeds had to begin strongly to prevent a repeat of the cup-final drubbing and, to end their opening set, Halifax player-coach Wayne Boardman kicked long, Leeds then forcing Halifax to put the ball in touch near their own line.

Tristan Norfolk went close before Nathan Collins forced his way over to open the scoring for Leeds in a measured opening, Collins converting.

Leeds’ excellent short-kicking game to turn their opponents round brought three consecutive goal-line drop-outs, Brown putting the last one out on the full and Collins landing the penalty-goal.

Halifax caught their short kick-off, with Brown just denied by a superb tackle from Josh Butler.

Both sides spilled possession, but then Hawkins burst up the middle to open the scoring for Halifax, with Boardman landing the first of ten goals from eleven.

Leeds sent on Tom Halliwell in the 17th minute after Butler’s chair was damaged, Boardman chipping over for Brown to win the race to the ball to put Halifax ahead.

Brown increased the lead with his second elusive try a minute later, Boardman with his third conversion.

Halifax conceded another drop-out and penalty but their defence held, with both sides kicking early in the tackle count.

Collins made a superb tackle to deny impressive Joe Calcott but, just after the half-hour, Brown completed a hat-trick with another shimmy near the line.

Butler returned, but Hawkins worked his way clear to go over wide out to increase the advantage, Boardman goaling from the touchline and, just before the half-time hooter, Hawkins completed his hat-trick, winning the race to Boardman’s astute kick over the top.

Leeds started the second half dominating possession, forcing another drop-out and four penalties, Norfolk denied but Butler rolling over the line.

A further drop-out won, their seventh, and a penalty for Halifax being offside helped Leeds get back on the front foot, Collins jinking over.

Hawkins produced a stunning pass to clear his goal-line and, on the back of it, Brown sped over for his fourth to quell the Leeds comeback, adding his fifth soon after on the hour mark.

Leeds conceded a penalty and Finlay O’Neill sent Brown in for his sixth touchdown, and Halifax finished strongly to retain their crown, Cian Horgan going over from a fine overhead pass.

Halliwell scored a consolation for Leeds, who won the drop out tally 9-0, but there was no denying Halifax their deserved triumph, Hawkins crowning their glory with a try on the final play.

GAMESTAR: Yet another virtuoso performance from Halifax’s Jack Brown in a big game, with incredible speed and movement in the chair yielding six tries in a stunning display.

GAMEBREAKER: Three tries in six first-half minutes enabled the Panthers go from 8-0 down to 18-8 up.

PANTHERS
1 Wayne Boardman
2 Rob Hawkins
5 Joe Calcott
6 Jack Brown
9 Finlay O’Neill
Subs (all used)
3 Cian Horgan
4 Nathan Holmes
8 Jordan Holt

Tries: Hawkins (14, 37, 39, 79), Brown (19, 20, 31, 58, 61, 66), Horgan (72)
Goals: Boardman 10/11

RHINOS
1 Nathan Collins
2 Cam Hills
3 Josh Butler
4 Nathan Mulhall
8 Tristan Norfolk
Subs (all used)
5 Becky Wilkinson
7 Tom Halliwell
10 Jodie Boyd-Ward

Tries: Collins (3, 53), Butler (49), Halliwell (76)
Goals: Collins 4/4, Halliwell 0/1

SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-6, 0-8, 6-8, 12-8, 18-8, 24-8, 30-8, 36-8; 36-14, 36-20, 42-20, 46-20, 52-20, 58-20, 58-24, 64-24

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Players of the Match
Panthers: Jack Brown; Rhinos: Nathan Collins

Penalty count: 6-9
Half-time: 36-8
Referee: Rebecca Whiteley