Sheffield v Halifax preview
Sheffield Eagles are still seeking their first points of the Super 8s, Sunday’s clash with Halifax represents their best opportunity of making an impression on the competition.
The Eagles have found the level tough so far after back-to-back defeats, but after facing two full-time opponents in the opening rounds, they host a Halifax side that finished one place below Mark Aston’s side in the Kingstone Press Championship table.
Aston’s side were victors at The Keepmoat during the regular season, but arguably the momentum will be with the visitors after they ended the regular season with nine consecutive victories, which included a comprehsive home success over the Eagles.
Richard Marshall’s side have also impressed in the Super 8s, despite defeats to Widnes and Hull KR, and Aston believes that Fax have impressed the most out of all the Championship clubs in the Super 8s.
“Halifax are probably the team that are pushing the Super League teams the closest,” Aston says. “They only lost 14-0 to Widnes and 34-12 to Hull KR so that shows they are having a dig. The coach is really proud of them and he is saying the right things, and so far they have had a right good go.”
Halifax – who only lost 14-0 against Super League Widnes in their opener – hope to have winger Tom Saxton back from injury after he missed their defeat at Hull KR last Sunday.
Sheffield: Togagee, turner, Yere, Smeaton, Worrincy, Brambani, aston, battye, Carlile, stringer, Knowles, Straughter, Taulapapa, Walker, Davies, Davey, Tomks, scott, Burns
Halifax: Ambler, Bracek, Cahalane, Divorty, Fairbank, Heaton, Johnston, Kaye, Maneely, Manning, Moore, Murrell, Potts, A. Robinson, C. Robinson, Saltonstall, Saxton, Tangata, Tyrer.
