Halfiax v Salford Red Devils match preview

Halifax have had another really consistent season in the championship. Young coach Richard Marshall has worked wonders on a low budget and boasts some really exciting young talent in his side. Former Halifax and Salford legend Colin Dixon’s grandson Chester Butler is making a real name for himself and will definitely be a player to watch. The vastly experienced Scott Murrell teams up in the halves with Ben Johnston and Fax are not short of pace with speedsters Kieran Moss, Will Sharp and Ben Heaton. Former Salford player Steve Tryer has become a real points machine in West Yorkshire and his now in his 6th season at Halifax.

Salford last met Halifax in a competitive fixture back in 2015 in the qualifiers. The Red Devils won away in a highly entertaining match 28-50. Niall Evalds grabbed a hat trick. Salford beat Halifax home and away in the 2008 Championship season.

Halifax were relegated from Rugby League’s top flight at the end of the 2003 season. The club have a long and proud history leaving there historical home at Thrum Hall at the end of 1997. Since then they have shared The Shay with football team Halifax Town.

The clubs major honours are Challenge cup winners 1903, 1904, 1931, 1939 and 1987. There 1939 success saw a 20-3 victory over Salford at Wembley.

Halifax’s last League title came in 1986.

It’s been a tough start to the Qualifiers for the West Yorkshire side with two defeats. At home to Toronto 0-14 and away at Toulouse 28-6.

As the Wolfpack pack found a few weeks ago Halifax are a real tough nut to crack on there own ground, Salford will need to be switched on to get the result on Sunday.

Last Ten meetings 

1997 Super League, Halifax 12 Salford 28

1998 Super League, Halifax 34 Salford 6

1999 Super League, Halifax 30 Salford 14

1999 Super League, Halifax 32 Salford 20

2000 Super League, Halifax 12 Salford 29

2001 Super League, Halifax 30 Salford 18

2002 Super League, Halifax 12 Salford 15

2008 National League, Halifax 18 Salford 36

2015 Qualifiers, Halifax 28 Salford 50

2017 Colin Dixon Memorial Trophy, Halifax 6 Salford 13

They played for both.

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, 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).

Sunday’s match 

Salford have made a perfect start to the Qualifiers with two excellent wins over Hull kr and Widnes. Halifax have lost both there games to Toronto and Toulouse. The Red Devils will start favourites but Richard Marshall has moulded a hard working side who can play some clever stuff. In what has been an enthralling Championship campaign Halifax’s fourth place finish was a great achievement. It promises to be an exciting encounter if the last qualifiers meeting has anything to go by. Three years ago saw Salford triumph 28-50. Greg Johnson, Niall Evalds and Ben Jones Bishop scoring hat tricks.

The action gets under way at 3pm

Safe travels and enjoy the match, Paul Whiteside.

Pictures by Steve McCormick