In beautiful playing conditions at Grange Park, Wetherby dominated the opening exchanges. The Reds persistently pressured the Halifax line and there pressure finally told when Myles Oates slotted over a penalty from a Halifax offside.

Wetherby were unable to add to there first half total of three, with poor mistakes from the usual slick backs, and some offloads quite not finding the hands of the Wetherby players.

Halifax hit back before the break, adding a penalty of their own due to players not releasing in the tackle.

The second half was a much more exciting affair. Wetherby started the half the brightest and consistent pressure in the Halifax 22, saw Andrew Trotman squirm his way out of 2 tackles and ground the ball. Myles Oates missed the conversion.

The front five of Halifax put huge amounts of pressure on the Wetherby scrum. Halifax pressured the Wetherby line following a catch and drive 15m out, and a series of penalties led to Nick Olte being sin binned for being found to have been lying on the wrong side of the ruck.

Wetherby seemed to hold Halifax out but an uncharacteristic mistake from young winger Barney Roberts allowed Halifax to score in the corner which was converted.

Halifax were looking to turn the screw being a man up but a poor error from there fly half popped the balls into Myles Oates hands who went 60m to score in the corner. The conversion fell just short.

Wetherby then took the lead when Alex Dus knocked over a penalty.

From the restart Wetherby made a series of errors which allowed Halifax to continue to pressure, and when the ball went wide they looked certain to score in the corner, however making up for his earlier mistake Barney Roberts put the player into touch with the try line gaping. Halifax soon scored a converted try after to put a 6 point gap between them and Wetherby.

With seconds ticking away, Wetherby began to pile on the pressure. Winning a line out in the Halifax 22, the ball was shipped out to the backs which went the whole way across the other side of the field. The ball came quickly back the other way and a miss match in the midfield allowed Alex Dus to feed in Myles Oates who drew his defender to put in Sean Lally to score. Alex Dus conversion drifted inches wide.

Wetherby were unable to get back into scoring range after that, and Halifax were winners 22-21. Wetherby will rue there missed conversions, but be pleased with the performance against one of the favourites to gain promotion this year.