Jerusalem ringing out, ground packed with a wonderful atmosphere.
Children have done the Haka youngsters from local rugby lap of honour.
Game on in 12 mins.
It's superb.

And to think some people miss winter rugby!
2 nil to Tonga at half time
Hope Charlie has got his minestrone it's blo:dy cold

great atmospere, aussie commentator says great occasion for the township of halifax, mentions man city fa cup game. , metions 3 pigeons 3 times, metions queensbury cricket club.
but must say the unfinished block in corner, the old offices and grassy/leafy bank between skircoat and north stand let the place down.
the aussie finnished off the show at 18.20 with thanks for showing me the 3 pigeons nobby. classic .

What a fabulous atmosphere in the south stand. Just about everybody cheering for Tonga.

Really loved that game TONGA! TONGA! TONGA!
Praise to the club for making it an great day for everyone involved.

What a great game TONGA! TONGA! TONGA!
Praise must have to go to the club for making it a day that people will never forget

In the South Stand myself and in the minority cheering for Italy.
Two things I would welcome better informed people's opinions on.
1 Two of Tonga's tries, one I think the ball was grounded on an Italians leg and the last I thought was a knock on by Tonga before the ball was grounded. I felt the big screen confirmed this. Perhaps you lucky people able to watch it again on Premier Sports would like to comment.
2 In your opinion how would we, Fax,Featherstone and Leigh the three best teams in the championship have fared against these two sides?

I also agree with swifty above, a good stadium which take away the muddy entrance to the south stand and a little bit more money put into it than the council can afford then we would have a great stadium.
But then Bubber/supergeoff and the other sycophantic acolytes are happy for the stadium to remain as it is for a few years and then slowly decline.
But hey lets not spoil today thinking of these little minded people, a tremendous effort by all involved.
I even managed to have a very cosy chat with a bulls supporter, the first time I have ever been civil with one, not sure her husband was too happy tho'



Well done the RFL, Halifax Council (no scoreboard you promised along with a new pitch) but otherwise well done, and to our own club and office staff.



ps. sack halicat, that Lion today was miles better :

Stop being a saddo mate and focus on the game and occasion. No real
Need to start in again about stadium and its future in this
Particular topic.

it was a lion?

Din't we expose you a few weeks ago?
You are not a Shayman Down under, you live in Mixendon, Jumbles I think, o'h and mate, is a false aussie term
Your lifts are out of order,
73 floors to climb.

Well organised, well attended and the right result.

Great to see so many in the shay.

do believe its a bear not a lion

Well if you think Elland is mixenden is fair enough. Also funny you should
Mention my place of birth, as I have just had my birth certificate sent out, and incidentally it states my place of birth as. Adelaide . I could
Be wrong though maybe Adelaide and brisbane my last known address in oz are just principalities in the greater borough of lower Ogden!

Agree with this!

Good day for everyone concerned.

Halifax being the host Town.

Enough support for both teams, especially the Tongans who will remember that for sometime, they love the crowds being so close to the pitch.

Rugby league in general as well, lets hope it gets some more of the Halifax public to the Shay to get behind the Fax.

A big thanks and well done to all concerned.

Great game n atmosphere, n thought it was really good of the Tongans to walk around the pitch doin autos n photos for the fans afterwards my kids are Chuffed to bits. Pity the Italians didn't .

Both the Tongans and the Cooks did likewise at Leigh, after doing a communal prayer after the game, they really are quite remarkable people

great day, our reputation in the rugby league world just keeps going up

Really enjoyed it today . Gee those Tongans can half tackle . Brilliant defence from them although I was a bit disappointed with the Italians attack . Couldn't work out if it was just great defending or poor attacking or a bit of both but Tonga deserved the win . My only gripe was this - did anybody else notice especially in the first half the Italian watercarrier / trainer on the pitch virtually every set of six they had . Mind you the Tongan equivalent was on almost as much . Definitely coaching as they were playing . Could the referee tell him to leave the field of the play or not? Apart from that a great day . When was the last time there were 10,000 fans for any game at the shay .

Watching highlights on the BBC now. A brilliant effort from everyone concerned. Lets hope the RFL take note.

As an aside, lets raise a cheer to the RFL for forcing licensing on the game to get crusaders in SL culminating in that massive crowd and great performance in Neath today.

Crowd was 3270.

Top day yesterday it was great to see the Shay so full although I wish all the schools had turned up to fill the Skircoat which was sadly facing the TV cameras but seeing the South & East Stands full looked terrific and having people actually in the North Stand.
The on the pitch stuff went well very professional and the half time dancing well done to all.

Oh and well done Tonga they deserved to win and at least they are genuine Tongans I believe not imports!

Actual crowd was 10,200 plus and it really was great to see the Shay as full as we are allowed currently. Neil Grace and I took over 500 photos, so if you were there, theres a good chance we snapped you see all the photos here halifaxrlfc.smugmug.com/Fax-Phot ... &k=kQk62tZ or here halifaxrlfc.smugmug.com/Fax-Phot ... &k=FkNbzcw Mike R

Actual crowd was 10,200 plus and it really was great to see the Shay as full as we are allowed currently. Neil Grace and I took over 500 photos, so if you were there, theres a good chance we snapped you see all the photos here halifaxrlfc.smugmug.com/Fax-Phot ... &k=kQk62tZ or here halifaxrlfc.smugmug.com/Fax-Phot ... &k=FkNbzcw Mike R

It was a cracking occasion, loved the extra Haka at the end too!!