HALIFAX PANTHERS 24 BARROW RAIDERS 14
SIMON JONES, The Shay, Sunday
HALIFAX bettered Barrow with four converted tries to make it two wins from two league games under Kyle Eastmond.
In this intriguing meeting of sides seeking a big improvement after flirting with relegation last season, both were buoyed by opening-round wins, the Panthers at Sheffield and the Raiders at home to Hunslet.
However Halifax’s Australian second rower Owen McCarron picked up a leg injury in South Yorkshire, so Brad Graham moved from the bench to the starting side while Adam Tangata, the experienced Cook Islands forward, came into the 17.
Eastmond was again able to call on powerhouse Tonga international centre Konrad Hurrell under the dual-registration partnership with St Helens. It was a 250th career appearance for the former Leeds and NRL star.
Barrow were without centre Matty Costello due to damaged ribs, but had scrum-half Ryan Johnston available again after a head knock, and in a reshuffle, named Shane Toal in the starting threequarters, with Australian Alex Bishop dropping from the halves to the bench.
Rain made the conditions tricky, and Ben Crooks couldn’t keep hold of the wet ball after territory was gained through a strong run by Ronan Dixon.
However, Halifax did strike successfully after four minutes as Louis Jouffret produced a neat show and go and cut through the Barrow defence, and added a straightforward conversion.
Jouffret then came up with a crucial tackle to thwart Toal as he raced down the left, before opposite winger Andrew Bulman made the most of Luke Cresswell’s delivery to dive over, although it was too far out for Brad Walker to add the goal.
Halifax forced a couple of drop-outs as they started to turn the screw, with Zack McComb going close, and they forced try number two on 21 minutes, with James Saltonstall scoring after good work by McComb and Hurrell. Jouffret kicked the conversion from the left touchline.
Tangata threatened from Jacob Fairbank’s pass, then Crooks did well to deal with three defenders and put out a delivery to James Woodburn-Hall, who went over from close range, with Jouffret goaling again for 18-4.
It took a fine 40-20 by Johnston to get Barrow back into the game on 34 minutes, with one-time Halifax player Ryan King crossing from the follow-up play and Brad Walker improving.
Woodburn-Hall and Will Calcott each threatened early in the second half while Brad Walker’s teasing kick tested the home defence, with both sides trying to play flowing rugby.
With Halifax pressing hard, Barrow somehow held out Hurrell as he hit a great line, but they couldn’t deny Tom Inman as he powered over after 62 minutes, and Jouffret made it four from four from the tee for a 24-10 lead.
Barrow weren’t giving up the chase, and Jarrad Stack and Josh Wood tested the home team, who had to play the final six minutes a man down after Dixon’s yellow card for a professional foul.
The visitors took advantage through Johnson, who dived across from King’s pass, but the conversion attempt was wide.
GAMESTAR: Halifax’s Louis Jouffret was clever in open play and accurate from the tee, converting all four of his side’s tries, one of which he scored.
GAMEBREAKER: Tom Inman’s 62nd-minute try which, when improved, meant the Panthers were 14 points in front.
MATCHFACTS
PANTHERS
1 Louis Jouffret
2 Ben Tibbs
31 Konrad Hurrell
4 Ben Crooks
5 James Saltonstall
6 James Woodburn-Hall
7 Jack Hansen
8 Brandon Douglas
9 Adam O’Brien
16 Ronan Dixon
20 Brad Graham
19 Zack McComb
13 Jacob Fairbank
Subs (all used)
10 Joe Hird
14 Tom Inman
17 Will Calcott
12 Adam Tangata
Tries: Jouffret (4), Saltonstall (21), Woodburn-Hall (26), Inman (62)
Goals: Jouffret 4/4
Sin bin: Dixon (74) – professional foul
RAIDERS
1 Luke Cresswell
2 Andrew Bulman
4 Luke Broadbent
18 Curtis Teare
5 Shane Toal
6 Brad Walker
7 Ryan Johnston
8 Tom Walker
9 Josh Wood
19 Delaine Gittens-Bedward
11 Ellis Robson
30 Jarrad Stack
13 Ryan King
Subs (all used)
22 Alex Bishop
15 Tom Wilkinson
32 Ryan Brown
33 Jamie Pye
Tries: Bulman (9), King (34), Johnston (76)
Goals: B Walker 1/3
SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 6-4, 12-4, 18-4, 18-10; 24-10, 24-14
Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Panthers: Louis Jouffret; Raiders: Ryan Johnston
Penalty count: 6-5
Half-time: 18-10
Referee: Kevin Moore