HALIFAX PANTHERS 88 LONDON CHARGERS 0
ALFIE INGRAM, The Shay, Sunday

HALIFAX cruised into the Challenge Cup third round with a whitewash victory over Southern Conference League side London Chargers.

There were 11 different try scorers for the Panthers, with Alfie Johnson securing a hat-trick to help earn their first win of 2026.

Halifax wasted no time getting on the scoresheet, the first try coming after just three minutes through Owen McCarron, who sliced through the middle of the Chargers’ defence to go over from close range.

New signing Jesse Soric earned his first points for the club two minutes later, latching onto the end of his own short grubber kick to score.

‘Fax began finding success as they spread the ball out to the wings, centre Johnson finding some space in the left corner to get his first.

Brad Day was next on the scoresheet, dancing through the London defence from 20m out for an excellent solo effort.

Fans favourite David Nofoaluma made it two tries in two games, as he utilised a sharp dummy to dodge the defence and score in the left corner.

Johnson secured his second in the 25th minute, catching a short kick to the corner mid-air to cross over the line.

Minutes later, prop Will Calcott added to the scoresheet for Halifax, going over from close range to increase the lead.

The Panthers once again began to shift the ball to the right wing, and Day used his strength to power his way over for his second in the right corner.

With not long until the break, Ben Tibbs capitalised on a gap in the Chargers’ defence 15m out to secure his first try of the season.

The Chargers earned themselves a penalty in a promising position just on the stroke of half-time, but the Panthers’ defence remained firm.

It was a slower start for Halifax early in the second half, as the Chargers managed to prevent their efforts going forward. 

This was short-lived, however, as Myles Lawford created a brilliant 49th minute solo effort to score from long range.

He earned a second just minutes later, again capitalising on some gaps in the London defence to break from distance.

Just before the clock hit the hour mark, the Panthers shipped the ball out right again, and Darius Carter beat his man to score on debut. 

McCaron secured his second of the game soon after, grounding a short grubber kick in the in-goal.

Charlie Graham was next on the scoresheet, with the relentless Panthers again scoring in the right corner.

Johnson secured his hat-trick with 12 minutes remaining, finding a gap to go over near the left edge.

With less than ten minutes remaining, the Chargers found themselves in good field position, but again were unable to capitalise.

Instead, the final try of the game came from Tanguy Zenon, who used superb pace and footwork to glide through, capping off a dominant Panthers win.

GAMESTAR: It could have been a few different players due to the amount of points scored, but with his hat-trick, Alfie Johnson was the pick of the bunch.

GAMEBREAKER: Brad Day’s 15th-minute solo effort made it clear that it was going to be a rough day for the Chargers.

MATCHFACTS

PANTHERS
1 David Nofoaluma
2 Ben Tibbs
4 Alfie Johnson
3 Tanguy Zenon
22 Darius Carter
6 Jesse Soric
17 Myles Lawford
8 Will Calcott
9 Adam O’Brien
12 Owen McCarron
11 Ben Crooks
24 Brad Day
14 Tom Inman
Subs (all used)
20 Vila Halafihi
23 Leon Cowen
21 Ben Forster
5 Charlie Graham

Tries: McCarron (3, 62), Soric (5), Johnson (7, 25, 68), Day (15, 32), Nofoaluma (19), Calcott (27), Tibbs (35), Lawford (48, 50), Carter (59), Graham (64), Zenon (77)
Goals: Lawford 11/14, Zenon 1/2

CHARGERS
1 Connor Flanagan
2 Ejiro Ahgogho
3 Josh Catlett
4 Tom Oldroyd
5 Elliot Stockdale
6 Shay Flanagan
7 Isaac Greene
8 Charlie Whitington
9 Doug Chirnside
19 Calum Linton
11 Joe Briggs
12 Jon Armour
13 Ciaron Mylod
Subs (all used)
14 Leo Ruggeri-Falaniko
15 Josh Hawkins
16 Tom Hackett
17 Trevor Chiffolleau

SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 10-0, 16-0, 22-0, 26-0, 32-0, 38-0, 44-0, 50-0; 56-0, 62-0, 66-0, 72-0, 78-0, 82-0, 88-0

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Panthers: Alfie Johnson; Chargers: Shay Flanagan

Penalty count: 2-4
Half-time: 50-0
Referee: Liam Breheny
Attendance: 676