HALIFAX PANTHERS head into their last two fixtures of the season – at Thatto Heath Crusaders this Sunday and at Wigan St Judes seven days later (September 13) – aware that regardless of how those matches go, the Women’s Rugby League Northern League Two title is in the bag.
The Panthers have, under head coach Mikey Otty, won all twelve of their fixtures so far and, with a six-point advantage in the standings, cannot be caught by second-placed Ashton Bears.
While the side also enjoyed a 100 percent winning record the previous season (as Siddal, in the final campaign of the winter-based Women’s Amateur Rugby League Association competition) similar success this time was not taken for granted by any means.
Team manager Natalie Moorhouse told League Express: “While anyone involved in Rugby League, at any level, naturally wants to win the next game, and the next one after that and so on, neither our management nor our coaching staff ever dreamed that we’d seal pole position with a 100 percent record, and we certainly didn’t put any pressure whatsoever on the players.
“That’s simply not this club’s way, especially bearing in mind that there’s plenty of tough opposition in Northern League 2.
“In any case, the task in hand is not yet complete by any means. We’re now targeting our last two league games and, following those, the play-offs.
“Hopefully we’ll reach the grand final and prevail in that to secure promotion.”
The Panthers were presented with the League Leaders’ Trophy in the immediate aftermath of their 56-2 home win over Ashton on the penultimate Sunday of August and were due to be paraded before the crowd at yesterday’s Betfred Championship fixture between Halifax and Keighley at The Shay.
Moorhouse added: “The players certainly deserve their place in the limelight, especially as they operate very much as a team, which in my opinion is one of the keys to our success.
“None of them care for individual awards and those who are hailed as the player of the match following any particular game are invariably at pains to pay full tribute to their teammates.
“They’re all in it together and that’s so good to see, as is the fact that the squad gels in a way I’ve never seen in the game before, regardless of the fact that the players range in age from teens to late 30s and early 40s.
“It really is remarkable and goes a long way to explaining our success. And that mix of experience and youthful enthusiasm augurs so well for the future of our club.”