Eagles vs Halifax (Challenge Cup) Preview

20/02/2020

Sheffield Eagles will be looking for their first victory of the 2020 season when they host Halifax at Wakefield's Mobile Rocket Stadium on Saturday.

The Eagles are without a victory from their opening three Betfred Championship fixtures with losses coming against Fax, Leigh Centurions and Toulouse Olympique.

The Eagles showed improvement in the 14-26 loss to Olympique at Castle Park, particularly in the second half as they outscored the visitors after the interval.

Toulouse led 4-20 at half time. Two early tries from Stan Robin were added to by James Bell's four-pointer and a Mark Kheriallah penalty goal.

Zack McComb registered his first competitive try in Eagles colours as half-time approached.

Joel Farrell added the first score of the second half before Paul Marcon killed the game as a contest by extending Toulouse's lead.

The Eagles scored late through Rob Worrincy following Harrison Hansen's sin-binning.

Halifax go into tomorrow's encounter with a win and a loss from their opening two Championship matches.

Fax pipped the Eagles to victory in Round 1 with an 18-17 triumph but lost out 16-18 to Dewsbury Rams on Tuesday night.

The hosts trailed 0-6 at half time, as Paul Sykes successfully kicked 3 penalty goals in an ill-tempered first stanza. 

Yellow cards were handed out to Fax’s Kevin Larroyer and Ed Barber before full-back Scott Grix and Dewsbury’s Dom Speakman were sent off for fighting.

Scott Murrell and Jodie Broughton both notched converted tries to give Halifax the lead before Matty Gee’s try levelled up the scores.

Broughton added another as Fax regained a slender advantage but the try was not converted.

Dewsbury fired back with an Andy Gabriel effort, converted once again by Sykes, and the visitors held on for a great win. 

One to Watch - Jodie Broughton

Winger Broughton will be a threat for Fax on Saturday.

The 32-year-old joined the club from Catalans Dragons in the off-season and will be looking to add to his first two tries in Blue and White which he scored against Dewsbury Rams.

By Lewis Coleman, graphic by Alex Coleman