Charly Runciman’s double earns Widnes victory at Halifax

Charly Runciman enjoyed a dream debut for Widnes as he scored two tries in their 14-0 Qualifiers victory at Halifax.

Although part-timers Halifax failed to get any points on the board, the game remained in the balance right up until the final two minutes when Widnes, leading only by Runciman's 48th-minute try, added two more scores through Alex Gerrard and then Runciman again.

The fixture pitted the lowest and highest ranked teams of the Middle 8s together, with the West Yorkshire club having finished fourth in the Championship, while the visitors came ninth in Super League.

There was no such obvious chasm, though, when the sides produced one of those real rarities in the sport - a scoreless first half.

Richard Marshall's Halifax side showed all the character of a side that had been on a nine-match winning run and were desperately unlucky not to pull off a huge shock.

The hosts defended magnificently under a barrage of pressure and arguably had the best chance of the first half. 

Former Hull KR hooker Scott Murrell showed all his old class to unleash Johnston with a lovely inside pass in the 14th minute.

Jacob Fairbank powered on in support but the ex-Huddersfield Giants loose forward was hauled down just inches short by Stefan Marsh. However, the Widnes winger loitered too long in the tackle and was rightly brandished a yellow card.

Halifax's Ben Johnston tackled by Rhys Hanbury

Halifax could not make the extra man pay, though, and it was Widnes who pressed most.

They were aided by the hosts' adventure, constantly trying to offload in their own half, which led to a series of unforced errors.

But Marshall's side scrambled brilliantly to keep on denying Widnes, Richard Moore producing one crucial tackle on dangerman Kevin Brown.

The visitors grew increasingly frustrated especially having seen two efforts rightly ruled out, one for offside and the other for a forward pass. 

However, Halifax's brave resistance was finally broken eight minutes into the second half as Denis Betts' star-studded side took the lead when Runciman, the centre newly-arrived from NRL club St George Illawarra, scrambled across.

It was a scrappy score, Halifax's back-three for once not challenging for one of Kevin Brown's high kicks, and the ball bouncing back fortuitously for the visitors.

But despite that setback, Halifax did not let up or tire in a game that proved a great advert for the new concept and Widnes hooker Aaron Heremaia, playing his 150th match in the British game since moving from Australia, was twice called upon to make crucial tackles to deny first Adam Tangata and then Mitch Cahalane.

Halifax would come no closer than that, though, and Widnes were able to put the game to bed in the final minutes when Gerrard and Runciman crossed for two late scores.