MATCH REPORT // Halifax Panthers 50 v 12 Newcastle Thunder

Thunder’s struggle to find an away win continued after suffering a nine-try defeat at the hands of Halifax Panthers.

Hoping to carry some momentum from their convincing win at home to Whitehaven RLFC last time out, Thunder travelled to The Shay Stadium with a sense of optimism, especially given Halifax’s 42-0 defeat against Batley Bulldogs the week before.

It would be Halifax however who showed their worth and why they’re well in contention to take a play-off place into the back end of the season.

The hosts led by 22 points at the break having held Thunder scoreless. Up until just beyond the half hour mark, both sides were evenly contested with the only score separating them being an unconverted Ben Crooks try on nine minutes.

The Panthers did, however, score three tries in the last eight minutes of the first half through the league’s top try scorer Lachlan Walmsley and a brace from Matty Gee.

With stand-off Louis Jouffret converting all three scores, the hosts went into the break 22-0 up.

Thunder would come out firing at the start of the second half with back-to-back tries of their own.

Jay Chapelhow continuing his fine try-scoring exploits this season by grabbing a brace with Jack Miller converting both.

The first was awarded as a penalty try after the prop-forward was held back chasing a neat kick-through by Denive Balmforth and the second an almost carbon copy although Chapelhow was able to dot down on his own accord this time.

The score now stood 22-12 after 51 minutes.

The momentum wouldn’t last for Thunder with Halifax turning on the gas for the last 29 minutes of the fixture.

The hosts ran in five further tries through Walsmley once more, his 30^th league try of the season, Dan Murray, Zack McComb, Ben Kavanagh and Brandon Moore.

Louis Jouffret successfully converted four out of the five tries, leaving the score 50-12 to the hosts at the final whistle.

NEWCASTLE THUNDER SCORERS

TRIES: Jay Chapelhow 2.

GOALS: Jack Miller 2.

SINBIN: Brad Gallagher

HALIFAX PANTHERS SCORERS

TRIES: Ben Crooks, Lachlan Walmsley 2, Matty Gee 2, Dan Murray, Zack McComb, Ben Kavanagh, Brandon Moore

GOALS: Louis Jouffret 7.