It was a glorious afternoon in West Yorkshire. In reality it was far too hot for Rugby League but that was the mission that Halifax and Salford faced.
Salford coach Dave Hewitt started with three debutants with Jacob Douglas on the wing and George Whitby in the halves, both on loan from St.Helens. Cameron Bate started at loose forward after joining on loan from Bradford. Winger Daniel Sarbah was back on loan from Castleford for his second appearance. Owain Abel started on the bench after his recent signing.
Both sides seemed to adapt to the roasting hot conditions very well in the early stages of the game. Salford built plenty of pressure with Brad Dwyer’s direct running causing Fax a real headache. After forcing a couple of drop outs with a real clever kicking game the visitors struck first through Dwyer who went over for a trademark try. Whitby converted, 0-6.
Halifax stepped up a gear and got their big pack rolling down the pitch. When they moved the ball they look well organised. After repeat sets winger Ben Tibbs went over in the corner before Myles Lawford booted off the touch line to level the scores at 6-6.
The home side dominated the rest of the first half. Salford failed to complete sets and unforced errors handed Halifax the initiative and field position. To their credit Salford’s resilience in defence particularly on their goal line kept them in the match. It took something special to put the home side in front two minutes before the break when a subtle pass created a try for Alfie Johnson. 12-6.
A stone cold knock on from Sarbah gifted Fax possession and they didn’t need asking twice. Tibbs raced over for his second try to increase the lead to ten points. Salford started to fall off tackles and it began to look like a big score could be rumbling. Jesse Soric and Will Calcott added tries to put the home side 28-6 up before a huge turning point. Fax fullback Will Brough was penalised whilst in possession for lashing out at the play the ball. This was a needless penalty which cost him ten minutes in the sin bin. From the resulting penalty Salford spilled the ball and for many that seemed like curtains really. What happened in the final sixteen minutes was pretty remarkable though and it’s what makes Rugby League such a magnificent spectacle.
Joe Hartley created a try for Sarbah with a piece of text book centre play. Sarbah finished superbly. Whitby pulled his conversion wide, 28-10.
With Halifax still down to twelve men Whitby broke and with Toby Hughes in support Salford scored a real champagne try and arguably the try of the match. 28-16.
From the kick off Halifax kicked out on the full, this provided Salford with a penalty on the halfway line. Whitby showed a fantastic step and scored a well deserved try to put Salford back within six points of Halifax.
Whitby broke again and substitute Owain Abel looked to have scored on his debut but the referee adjudged him to be held up. After such a long injury lay-off Abel looked very sharp and added another dimension to Salford’s attacking shape.
Salford were fully on top now and with their supporters desperately seeking another try behind the sticks Ollie Garmston who has a habit of scoring very important tries crashed over to put Salford back within two points with around five minutes remaining.
Whitby levelled the match with his conversion and all the momentum was now with Salford. Halifax were the team clinging on to the ropes. Salford had risen off the canvas and they went looking to land the knock out blow. Both sides looked out on their feet, Salford went left with Garmston who always seems capable of bursting tackles with his elusive running, Hartley bagged the pass in support and he had Sarbah on his outside. Sarbah has struggled earlier in the match and made a few costly errors but he took the pass to dive over for the match winning try. Sarbah could quite easily have gone into his shell in the final quarter but he showed tremendous spirit and character to become an unlikely hero.
This result just shows how far Salford have come from the start of the season in January. This match could have ended a completely different way but Dave Hewitt’s side are forging their own identity in the Championship and with plenty of games left to play Salford’s 2026 destiny is their own hands.
Halifax 28 Salford 34.
Paul Whiteside.
Huge thanks to Gameday 523 for the photo!