Western Samoan winger Tuilagi, who has been instrumental in Halifax's surge into the Super League play-off picture this season, crossed at the start of each half as the Blue Sox recorded their third straight victory.

But the defeat, the Eagles' fifth in as many home league games in 1998, will be a major blow to the Challenge Cup winners' hopes of finishing in the top five.

A win would have put them within two points of St Helens, who are currently fifth.

For Halifax, though, the prospect of them qualifying for the play-offs is very bright indeed after their sixth win in eight games left them level on points with defending champions Bradford.

Early lead

Tuilagi gave Halifax a sixth-minute lead, crashing over following good work by Carl Gillespie, before Neil Law crowned his first-team debut with a try after Keith Senior had got his hand to Marcus Vassilakopoulos' high kick.

Paul Rowley restored Halifax's lead, pouncing to score the try after Gavin Clinch's bomb had caused confusion in the home defence, with Martin Pearson landing his second conversion.

Sheffield hit back, Nick Pinkney making an incisive break between two Blue Sox players and dashing over, before Pearson's try and conversion gave the visitors an 18-10 interval lead.

Tuilagi grabbed his second try seven minutes after the break, powering over after receiving Damian Gibson's pass, before Jamie Bloem's penalty increased their advantage to 14 points.

Senior's fifth try in as many League games, together with Vassilakopoulos' second goal, put the Eagles back in contention but when David Bouveng crossed with 10 minutes to go it seemed Halifax had the game sewn up.