Halifax v Salford.

The way the Championship has been structured this season it’s been a little stop, start so far. It’s great to have a game to look forward this weekend. Last weekend saw the 1895 Cup Quarter finals. London, Widnes and Midlands all progressed to the semi finals. The last four is complete with Rochdale Hornets who I thought deserved a special mention. It’s such a shame Salford don’t meet Rochdale in 2026 in the League but hopefully our paths will cross again in 2027. Midlands meet London in the Semi final whilst Widnes will host Rochdale in a few weeks time. 

This Sunday Salford travel over the Pennines to face Halifax at the Shay. The two sides met at the end of March in the reverse fixture which Halifax won 22-28. Since then Fax have registered just one win from their last six games. Salford got back to back wins over Swinton and Batley but were well beaten by Widnes last time out.

Salford have announced some really positive news this week with the signing of experienced back Kieran Dixon who was released by Oldham. Dixon made his debut for London Broncos in 2012 and since then he’s played for nine different clubs and with each one his try scoring record is quite superb. Dixon is also a very accomplished goal kicker. He’s a very elusive runner with lots of pace and a good step. On Monday evening the club also announced that Brad Dwyer has signed a permanent deal until the end of the season. Brad has been outstanding in every game he’s played at Salford. His leadership skills, strength and knowledge of the game has help mould this young group of players. Dave Hewitt has also been announced as coach alongside Brad Dwyer who will be his assistant. I think the partnership between Dave and Brad has been ticking along in the background for a while now and they both seem to compliment each other very well. All in all it’s been a very positive week building up to the match this Sunday.

Meetings between Halifax and Salford have been quite rare in recent years. The last top flight meeting was back in 2002. Fax were relegated at the end of the 2003 season and have been out of Super League ever since then. Salford’s only Challenge Cup final success came in 1938 with that famous victory over Barrow. We did however get to the final the following year in 1939. Halifax beat us in that match 20-3. 

For the record Halifax’s last home win over Salford came in May 2001, 30-18.

Halifax are one of the oldest clubs in Rugby League, they’ve won the Challenge Cup five times and the Championship four times. Since leaving Thrum Hall at the end of the 1990s the club has struggled financially at times and earlier this year there was doubts they would even get through the season. That now seems to be behind them which is a massive relief to their loyal supporters. 

Post war League away record.

Halifax 19

Draws 0

Salford 11

2018 Halifax 4 Salford 62 (Middle eight qualifiers)

2015 Halifax 28 Salford 50 (Middle eight qualifiers)

2008 Halifax 18 Salford 36

2002 Halifax 12 Salford 15

2001 Halifax 30 Salford 18

2000 Halifax 12 Salford 29

1999 Halifax 32 Salford 20

1999 Halifax 34 Salford 14

1998 Halifax 34 Salford 6

1997 Halifax 12 Salford 28

1995 Halifax 24 Salford 27

1993 Halifax 20 Salford 12

1993 Halifax 36 Salford 14

1991 Halifax 29 Salford 12

1989 Halifax 21 Salford 12

1987 Halifax 29 Salford 20

1986 Halifax 18 Salford 8

1985 Halifax 23 Salford 12

1982 Halifax 15 Salford 10

1981 Halifax 23 Salford 19

1975 Halifax 4 Salford 13

1971 Halifax 2 Salford 45

1967 Halifax 27 Salford 18

1961 Halifax 33 Salford 8

1956 Halifax 41 Salford 13

1952 Halifax 8 Salford 10

1949 Halifax 13 Salford 4

1948 Halifax 17 Salford 8

1946 Halifax 5 Salford 3

1945 Halifax 5 Salford 9

They played for both.

These two historic clubs have shared some great players over the years,

Colin Dixon, Greg Austin, Damien Gibson, Gavin Clinch, Andrew Dunemann, Luke Adamson, Luke Ambler, Simon Baldwin, Danny Arnold, Steven Bannister,

Gavin Bennion, Carl Briggs , Ryan Boyle, Peter Brown, Ryan Clayton, Jason Flowers, Danny Halliwell, Karle Hammond, Steve Hampson, Tim Hartley, Phil Hassan, David Hodgson, Graham Holroyd, John Pendlebury, Martin Moana, Nick Pinkney, Craig Randall, Ian Watson, Paul White, Colin Whitfield, Paul Highton, Ryan Lannon, Andrew Brocklehurst, Steve Tyrer and Lokeni Savellio to name a few.

A match to remember Monday 1st April 2002.

 Halifax 12 Salford 15.

2002 was a real season of struggle for Salford. With young coach Steve McCormack in charge things didn’t go to plan. Steve was eventually replaced by Karl Harrison mid season but the writing was on the wall. Salford had to beat Castleford on the final day to stay up but lost 10-20 at The Willows and we’re relegated. A season with quite a lot of big defeats and dark days which our loyal supporters would rather forget.

Easter time though was a bit more memorable. A good solid win over Warrington on good Friday at The Willows 31-18, Salford travelled over the pennies to Halifax on Easter Monday.

A damp and miserable day was in store as the two sides came out for kick off.

The Reds made an excellent start and played the conditions really well,scoring two tries in the opening six minutes.

First, Halifax full-back Daryl Cardiss fumbled a high high kick allowing Francis Maloney to score under the posts.

Three minutes later, from another Bobbie Goulding high kick, Mick Wainwright outjumped Cardiss to catch the ball and touch down.

Goulding stepped up on both occasions to convert the tries.

Salford extended their lead on 11 minutes when Gouding kicked a penalty after Blue Sox hooker Sean Penkywicz was penalised for striking Reds forward Darren Shaw.

Halifax tried to respond but Gavin Clinch saw his effort disallowed for a double movement and moments later Goulding kicked a drop goal to put Salford 15-0 up at half time.

The home side finally broke their duck five minutes after the restart.

Clinch went over for a try after good work by Colum Halpenny and Andrew Dunemann while Danny Tickle added the goal.

In the 63rd minute, Jamie Thackray took the ball close to the Salford line and went over with four Reds tacklers trying to hold him back.

Tickle added a second goal but Salford held on for their first back-to-back victories under coach Steve McCormack.

The teams that day;

Halifax: Cardiss, Beckett, Woods, Donlan, Halpenny, Dunemann, Clinch, Goldspink, Penkywicz, Gannon, Bloem, Tickle, McMenemy. Replacements: Hobson, Thackray, Flowers, Birchall.

Salford: Gibson, Pinkney, Nicol, Hunte, Arnold, Maloney, Goulding, Baynes, Alker, Shaw, Jowitt, Treacey, Wainwright. Replacements: Holroyd, Corvo, P. Highton, Ebrill.

Referee: Steve Ganson (St Helens).

Attendance, 3,808.

Sunday’s match.

As I mentioned at the start of the preview Halifax are struggling for form at the moment. It might sound obvious but Salford need to start well on Sunday and cut out the elementary mistakes of recent weeks. You’ve got to make it difficult for your opponents and not hand them easy opportunities and field position on a plate. At times this season Salford have gift wrapped tries for opponents with basic errors. 

Looking at the weather forecast it looks like Sunday will be a glorious sunny day. I can see a few points being scored in this one and it will be interesting to see who Dave Hewitt picks to start at fullback now we have a few options. 

Halifax have plenty of pace in their back line and this was probably the difference when the two sides met just a few weeks ago. 

Cole Oakley has settled in really well to his position in the back row. With two games under his belt for Salford the 25 year old is one of our more experienced players. It was nice to chat to Cole this week on the Bring On The Salford podcast. He’s another cracking character with lots of potential. Being a scaffolder by trade he gets plenty of strength training done in his day job. 

With two exciting away matches in the next few weeks with Halifax this Sunday and North Wales the following Sunday it’s a crucial point in the season where Salford could start climbing the table. Halifax is always a cracking day out and personally I am looking forward to a thrilling match this weekend.

The action gets under way at 3pm

Safe travels and enjoy the game.

Paul Whiteside. 

Big thanks to Steve McCormick for the photos and the Salford match day programme.