Inspired Blue Sox beat Broncos

Halifax Blue Sox 22 London Broncos 16

Substitute Martin Pearson gave Halifax Blue Sox the inspiration to stage a second-half comeback to beat the London Broncos.

Pearson, on as a 35th-minute replacement for debut-making teenager Casey Mayberry, scored a try and kicked four goals to secure the Blue Sox's first home win in six weeks.

In a see-saw battle, the Broncos took an early lead with a penalty by Brett Warton, cancelled out four minutes later by Halifax's Jamie Bloem.

They stood up and were counted and showed they have the metal against a good Super League side

Halifax player-coach Gary Mercer

After the match, Halifax player-coach Gary Mercer said: "We sat the lads down at half-time and told them the game was there for the taking and they really responded to it.

"They stood up and were counted and showed they have the metal against a good Super League side."

London's Mat Toshack thought he had scored on 23 minutes but the ball was ruled out of play.

But four minutes later London did score a try when referee Robert Connolly allowed play to continue despite Scott Cram's push on Bloem.

The ball was worked to the right to skipper Karle Hammond whose pass sent winger Frank Napoli in, with Warton adding the goal.

There was little to cheer in the first half but the game sprang to life two minutes after the restart.

Solo try

Broncos lost possession in midfield, player-coach Gary Mercer and Andy Hobson took the ball on and loose forward Martin Moana took advantage of some slack defending to barge over, Pearson adding the extras.

But Broncos soon moved back in front as Pearson's chip on the sixth tackle was gathered by Warton and the full back ran 75 metres to the corner for a brilliant solo try, but he was unable to add the goal.

With Mercer leading by example, Halifax grabbed the lead back from the visitors and this time they did not let it go.

Pearson scored a try under the posts and got up to add the conversion.

Moana sent skipper Greg Florimo in at the corner after Napoli failed to gather another Duneman kick. Pearson added the touch-line conversion and, although London's Glen Air took advantage of a terrible error by Damian Gibson to score a try with five minutes remaining, Halifax managed to hold on.