Rad - all over!
Hornets celebrate as Bowker steals it at the death
While there’s never a bad time to score, it’s fair to say that some times are better than others. And Radney Bowker’s killer try with just 20 seconds left on the clock swiped this game from under Halifax’s noses and hoisted Hornets up the table into fourth place.

Hornets started well. After just five minutes, Lee Doran found ERadney Bowker with enough space to get away a bobbling kick behind enemy lines; Richard Varkulis showed good vision to flick the ball back for the supporting Chris Giles to score. McCully added the extras - but instead of Hornets kicking on, the try woke Halifax with a start.

On 11 minutes, Weisner lofted a nicely weighted chip for Jones to collect; he turned the ball inside and Gibson gathered to score.

Hornets were now giving Weisner plenty of space to work with, and he began steering the Halifax pack around the field almost at will; but it was Hornets’ Gareth Price who made the big breakthrough - blasting fully 40 metres upfield before being hauled down. Halifax replied in kind when a similar effort from hooker ben Fisher brought a copybook tackle out of Paul Owen (looking back at his tenacious best on attack and defence).

But Hornets defence was stretched all over the place after 18 minutes as Jones’ quickfire ball sent Haley in at the corner.

Bobbie Goulding had seen enough from the bench and, on 23 minutes, came on to rally his troops. With his first touch he chipped neatly into space - only the bounce taking the ball away from Andy Saywell.

As Goulding strove to find some rhythm in his runners and some precision in his passes, Weisner drilled a huge 40-20 downfield; but Hornets’ defence was resolute and withstood the pressure. Hornets introduced king-sized ‘Mr Incredible’ lookalike John Hill to the fray and on his first burst he ran straight over the top of Weisner, leaving Fax’s playmaker staggering in a daze. It was the end of Weisner’s afternoon, but his fellow half-back Jones worked the ball well at close range; recipient Dave Larder smuggling the ball out of the back of the tackle for Hadcroft to score.

Half time Hornets trailing 6-16 - and, despite some good scrambling on defence, struggling to find any real fluidity.

Whatever was said in the Hornets dressing room at half time, it worked. Halifax started well with the agricultural Ryan Macdonald dispatched for ten minutes for dissent. Hornets turned the screw, but first Andy Saywell was bustled into touch; then Mark McCully couldn’t quite gather Lee Doran’s pass. Having come up with nothing from back-to-back sets, Bobbie Goulding took charge on the next possession.

On the hour, Hornets took the ball close to the Halifax line and Goulding hit the gas - stepping through a static defence for a great try. Hornets back within striking distance at 12-16. Hornets took heart - and took the game to Halifax.

On 65 minutes, Hornets again drove Halifax back onto their own line. Goulding probed for an opening; John Braddish took the move on - repeatedly ducking in and out of gaps in the ‘Fax line, making more and more yards each time; Braddish found Doran who slipped a quick pass to Andy Saywell who crashed in at the corner. 16-all - and the game turned on its head.

From the next possession, Goulding launched a 40 metre drop-goal attempt that drifted just wide. On what was probably Halifax’s first visiit to the Hornets’ posts in the second half, Jones’ drop-goal slid over to give Halifax a one-point advantage. On 71 minutes, Jones gleefully accepted a penalty on 30 metres and stretched halifax’ lead to 16-19.

‘Fax hooker Fisher dropped the kick-off under no pressure and Hornets sucked in for a big last effort. Pushing Halifax ever backwards, Hornets struggled to find any gaps in the defensive line; Alstead shouldered into touch at the flag with two minutes remaining. Halifax played out their six and Hornets came back at them one more time.

Five drives took the ball to within ten metres of the Halifax line; Referee Ganson signalled the fifth and final tackle; as mark McCully took the ball from acting half, Hornets timekeeper Ray Myers indicated ‘30 seconds’.

Goulding took the ball across field; Braddish continued the momentum; Paul Owen hit the line, sucking in tacklers as he went; Radney Bowker appeared on his shoulder to take take a great pass round the tackler and glide in for a try that brought the main stand to its feet and left the Sandy Lane end full of Halifax fans silent in disbelief.

McCully slotted the conversion; the hooter sounded and Hornets had stolen the game by 22-19. Amazing stuff.

Having kept Halifax tryless for the second half, this was a major turnround for Hornets after the labours of the first 40. Whilst still not quite running on all cylinders, we showed flickers of our old confidence and proved the adage that games really do last 80 minutes.