Rugby League: Halifax keepchampionship race wide open

Halifax. . . .22

Warrington. . .7

WARRINGTON completed an excellent few days for Bradford Northern by following Wigan in losing vital ground in the three-cornered Championship race last night. With Kelly Shelford absent in New Zealand, Warrington were always one creator short and struggling against a Halifax side showing some of their unfulfilled potential and strengthened by the return of John Fieldhouse, who won an appeal against his suspension.

Fortunate to be level at half-time they were comprehensively undone by three tries in the final quarter, which exposed holes in their

defence and their title hopes.

Only the mature defensive skills of their teenage full-back, Lee Penny, protected Warrington during a whirlwind opening from a Halifax side clearly bent on revenge for their Challenge Cup defeat three weeks ago. The Yorkshiremen attacked with pace and precision but got no change out of Penny when he stopped Paul Round with a try-saving tackle and then beat Mark Preston to the Halifax winger's own kick ahead.

A touchdown by Steve Hampson was disallowed for a clear forward pass and points continued to elude Halifax when John Schuster missed a simple penalty from 20 yards out.

They finally made their breakthrough thanks to a cruel bounce that left Penny, so secure early on, stranded and embarrassed. Paul Bishop's kick sat up conveniently into Michael Hagan's arms and his try was converted by Schuster.

Warrington were back on terms from one of their few first-half

attacks, Allan Bateman beating a series of tackles on a weaving 30- yard run to leave Jonathan Davies the easiest of kicks.

Despite the loss of David Elliott and Rod Myler with serious injuries, Warrington wrestled back the initiative when Greg Mackey put them ahead with a drop goal.

Both sides, but more frequently Halifax, knocked-on in good positions as they went in search of the try that would go a long way towards deciding such a tight contest.

Halifax thought they had got it when Roy Southernwood was stopped a yard short from Bishop's pass after a spell of sustained pressure that seemed certain to force Warrington to crack. It was not a surprise then when Schuster's break split the defence and Bishop backed up to score against his old side with Schuster adding the points for the goal.

The same combination struck again with 13 minutes to go, Bishop's kick for the corner setting up the former All Black. As time ran out John Bentley punished Warrington further with the most spectacular of the night's tries, a 70-yard run down the right touchline.

Halifax: Hampson; Bentley, Schuster, Hallas, Preston; Hagan, Bishop; Harrison (Round, 47), Southernwood, Fieldhouse, Round (Lord, h-t), Perrett, Divorty.

Warrington: Penny; Forster, Bateman, Davies, Myler (Chambers, 39); Ellis, Mackey; Chambers (Hilton, 32). Thursfield, Teitzel, Jackson, Darbyshire, Elliott (Sanderson, 15).

Referee: D Campbell (Widnes).