Wakefield beat Halifax 30-12 in their Super 8s Qualifier on Saturday
Last Updated: 19/09/15 9:00pm
Wakefield cast aside their off-field troubles to take a huge step towards Super League safety with a comfortable 30-12 win over Halifax at Belle Vue.
Teenage full-back Max Jowitt celebrated his call-up with a long-range try on his home debut as the Wildcats overcame their part-time opponents for the second time this season, following a a 44-16 triumph in the Challenge Cup in April.
The win guarantees Wakefield a top-five finish in the Super 8s Qualifiers.
They could yet secure a place in the top three if they beat Sheffield Eagles next weekend and Salford lose their last two fixtures but are assured of a place in the Million-Pound match to determine the 12th place in Super League for 2016.
It was not the most fluent of performances but, after a week dominated by disciplinary issues, coach Brian Smith will just be relieved to get the points.
Already without four senior players due to a pending internal investigation, the Wildcats lost two others, Lee Smith and Ali Lauitiiti, to injury on the eve of the game, prompting the elevation of full-back Jowitt for only his third Super League appearance and fellow 19-year-old Jordan Crowther.
Wakefield also gave a debut to former Leeds prop Andy Yates, who became the 41st player to be used by the Wildcats this season, but the disruption appeared minimal when hooker Michael Sio forced his way over from acting half-back for the game's first try after seven minutes and Joe Arundel kicked the first of his five goals.
Halifax, fresh from their surprise win over Leigh, hit back three minutes later when experienced stand-off Scott Murrell took his side to within sight of the Wildcats line with a darting run and then combined with centre Ben Heaton to get winger Jake Eccleston over at the corner.
Steve Tyrer brought the scores level with a touchline conversion but the visitors ruined some promising moves with handling errors and Wakefield eased into an 18-6 lead by half-time.
Sio pounced for his second try after Pita Godinet's grubber kick bounced back off an upright and French international prop Mickael Simon proved unstoppable on a storming run 10 metres out.
The home side were forced into some desperate defence at the start of the second half to keep their lead intact but Heaton was held up over the line and Tyrer was bundled into touch after he reached the line.
Arundel increased Wakefield's advantage with a penalty and any hope of a Halifax comeback was snuffed out after 67 minutes when Leeds-bound prop Anthony Mullally charged over for his first try for the club following a sustained spell of pressure.
Murrell scored a consolation try for the visitors and Tyrer kicked his second goal but Wakefield had the last say when Jowitt went from half-way for a memorable score.
