Great effort last night . At one stage I dared to dream but eventuality lost out to a full time , fitter and just that bit more skilful team. That aside this is a really important weekend for championship clubs . If one of Leigh , Bradford or Sheffield could sneak a win come super eights time my confidence would be lifted , if three more heavy losses then .............

I actually worry about us making the top 4 on that showing. We would get mullered every week we played SL opposition and do we want to see that? Imagine if we had to play say Hull or Widnes next week after that game last night, the players would be shot.

That said it was a great effort and once again we competed for about 60 minutes before we were run off our feet. That was really all we could ask for and the score flattered Wakefield I feel. We got chatting to a Wakefield fan and you could just tell the difference in quality, both teams made lots of half breaks but our passes were loose with players having to reach to catch the ball where as Wakey hit the bread basket nearly 100% of the time, it made a big difference but thats what you get when you have all that money to spend.

Salty looked good again against top class opposition and if he can work on his passing game he will certainly get in shot in SL IMO, he will be the best full back in our league this year. Brown and Potts were both superb and Im really pleased for Brown to produce that sort of performance after probably losing the crowd in the weeks before, anyone who saw him play for Batley that is the player we want to see. How can some people on here not like Ben Heaton? He did not look out of place last night one little bit and is turning in to a very good centre at our level. Murrell was good again but ran out of steam, hopefully with Craven coming in it might take some of the workload off if it can be split 3 ways. Calahane is a monster how good was he last night? Along with Ambler and Moore we really took it to their pack, the rest of the players played their parts too and i didnt think anyone had a bad game but once again that does show that gulf in class.

Big game next week at Sheffield and hopefully the fans can get behind the team like last night again because it makes a real difference and I just wish we made that sort of noise at the Shay because it was a cracking atmosphere but the Shay feels like a morgue at times its so quiet.

Once again a fantastic effort by all the players, the fans played their part in a good game. I do feel however that we must find the finances to go full time next season to compete with the top sides in our league & to attract better players to the club. I fear if we don't the momentum RM is building may start to slide as fans become frustrated at our inability to beat the top sides.

Just about sums it up for me GFB.

On the worry for the top 4 the other side of the coin is if we were to be playing SL opposition every week then the team and squad would be somewhat different, based on a much bigger budget and full time so it's more of how could we close the gap quick enough without going straight back down, same old story and challenge for anyone who gets promoted. Unless you mean just in the paly off's and then we are up against it no doubt.

Last thought's I thought the pace of the game was much better last night over the regular Championship wrestling matches and slow play the balls that we see.

As a result the game was a much better spectacle for the fans and much more enjoyable.

The powers that be just think that if you say anything about this it's the fans who have lost having a moan about the ref and sometimes it is.

It's not just that, we just want to see fast, exciting, open rugby played at a good pace and the easiest way to provide it is to clean up the ruck, stop all this messing about, rolling around and wrestling that we are served up most weeks and it will happen as last night showed as will the skill and fitness levels of those playing the game.

Well full time against part time really told last night. Even early in the game though you could see the difference between the two sides with Wakefield much faster at the play the ball. Still it was a good show by both the team and the fans who really got behind the lads. Also cheers to Peter and his mates in Fernandes who gave us all a lift up to Belle Vue. Time now to crack on in the league starting next week at Donny against Sheffield. Up The Fax!

A few things for me following what was a brilliant effort:

RM's comments cleverly veiled a very precise and correct dig at Red Hall in that our lads had been cleaning windows and working on roofs today whilst our opposition were trotting out muscle memory exercise and spinning the ball right to left at speed all day and all week!

Brown, jury still out but had a much improved second half including defusing some high bombs. Leaves us too exposed by coming inside too often and needs to agree cover before doing so.

Murrell - wow! different player all together. Passed and kicked with guile including some clever kick offs trying to mix it up which is innovative and positive for me.

Salty - what a diamond. He will be SL NO DOUBT one day. Is he Mark's son anyone, the guy who works at Lamric Engineering down Sowerby? Very bright future.

Calahane - as someone else said, monster and so happy he is here. I think he needs more confidence and believe in himself near the try line as he seemed hesitant oddly when stormed around the pitch elsewhere. That will come.

Others - great strong running and commitment and in a Utopian Fax world, the passing could be better but I feel muscle-memory plays a BIG part in this. Something that RM will know well and will work on.

If we can get up for the Sheffield game and win it I am sure we will be happy bunnies. Let's get down en-mass. The Fax crowd made my heart SOAR last night and well done to you all - FAN-tastic one and all!

Lastly Rickster - I have mixed feelings about matching up to the bottom four SL clubs as that only endorses the bullcrap that the RFL are spewing. I feel it would be better completely bombing out as it shows they are then making token gestures. I wish us all well but do not want the Bulls and Leigh matching up to them as the gap for us will only widen and we are in danger of falling away for a long time.

Lastly - nice to see Barlow enjoying life but oh my the IRONY. A Halifax lad through and through (FAN) and undoubtedly one that got away. Great shame!

GOOD TIMES ahead people - and we can make the difference. You guys are all brilliant fans and if we have no money, let's try to push the lads there with our sheer determination and incredibly unbreakable spirit. There is a buzz about the club I feel and RM will continue to do great things.

............and breathe. Have a good weekend all!

Looking back at the game the day after it was a great effort by the lads. For about an hour we looked to be in a proper cup game. Unfortunately their full time fitness and that extra class showed and I was impressed by the forwards they brought on who just were physically bigger fitter and more direct than ours near the line. Core skills were better but that is what you would expect. it shows where we are currently at now and what to work on. The big filip for me was actually hearing some great Fax support for the lads and i just wish we would replicate that at home. it does make a difference. Good luck to the other Championship clubs v SL teams. Hope you put a marker down.PS having posted previous that Brown wasn't a winger for the Blue & White I thought he played much better last night-well done and also Ben Heaton is improving at a great rate. See you at the Seagulls.

Heaton looks a different player and we need him to do a job on Menzie next week, he has done it the past and asked some question whilst doing it, same again please Ben.

Can't add anything to the above, just to reiterate two points, we competed until approximately 20 mins from the end which shows the difference full time and a full squad makes.
We have known all season we are light at half back and once again it was highlighted by Wakefields half backs.
Just a thought on Wakefields team, they featured a loanee who has played for three different clubs against us this season.
A case of have boots will travel, and to think some people don't mind the loan system but abhore Dual Reg.

Well done Fax, well done fellow supporters and let's all get over to Doncaster? When we play Sheffield?
again.

www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/ru ... -1-7216647 A good article on the match.

www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/ru ... -1-7216647 A good article on the match.

Well done Halifax. I thought you might have had us. The score flattered us and two of our tries were forward passes which would have made the sore a lot closer. We had the same ref against Huddersfield and we were beaten by forward passes. Keep going I'm sure you'll give a good account of yourselves in the play-offs. All the best.

Thanks for that, interesting draw in the next round - Leigh.
You will find them a lot tougher than us but you are a SL club and used to playing at that level every week so whilst many will fancy Leigh to win I am not so sure. Like I said it will be very interesting Leigh are used to winning and your next few weeks will tell where you are you need a couple of wins before you play them otherwise I would say Leigh.

Leigh to win, I think.
By far the best team in our league and, in my humble opinion would have done well in super league this season.
No disrespect to Wakefield but come on Leigh.

the highlights of our game at Wakefield were shown on super league full time on sky sports this week