Halifax hold on for victory
Halifax defended superbly in the closing stages to hold on to victory in their Challenge Cup fourth-round tie with Widnes.
Last Updated: 03/04/09 10:38pm
Halifax edged out Widnes Vikings in a tight and exciting Challenge Cup encounter at the Shay.
The scoring was completed before the hour-mark but the game's intensity remained until the final whistle as the home side protected their lead with some brilliant defending.
Widnes, looking to avenge their 24-14 National League One defeat a fortnight earlier, took the lead with an eighth-minute penalty from Richard Fletcher but conceded a try only a minute later.
Scrum-half Ben Black tore away from a scrum to touch down for a solo try, which was converted by Mick Govin, his first of four successful kicks at goal.
Former St Helens prop Sam Thompson levelled the scores seven minutes before half-time, taking hooker Mark Smith's pass close to the line to crash over just seconds after entering the play as substitute.
Gavin Dodd's successful conversion edged the visitors ahead and they looked to have added to their score just before the break when full-back Loz Wildbore finished a superb break from inside his own half by winger Paddy Flynn, but the try was disallowed for a forward pass.
Comeback
In the second-half, Halifax had to come from behind twice to level the scores before taking the lead in the 58th minute.
Govin levelled things up with a penalty before Vikings' stand-off Anthony Thackeray hit-back by jinking over the line for his team's second try.
Halifax substitute Dwayne Barker broke clear to send full-back Shad Royston over for an equalising try but Dodd edged Widnes back in front with a second penalty after 53 minutes.
Then Halifax hit the front for when second-rower Mark Roberts forced his way over from close range after a quickly-taken tap penalty and the hosts defended superbly to hold onto their lead.
