part of the Halifax Rugby League family
Halifax Panthers Wheelchair Rugby League Club is an integral part of the Halifax Panthers Rugby League family. As well as being one of wheelchair sport’s most successful teams, the club also has close links with the community in Calderdale.
For the first team, the last ten years have seen a number of successes, including a league championship, two wins in Grand Finals, three Challenge Cup victories and a European Championship. Twice they have done the Grand-final, Challenge Cup double.
On Sunday 4th June, Halifax Panthers development squad played their 3rd game of 2023. They were up against a new team from Sheffield (which was developed this year on the back of all the TV exposure from the world cup in 2022).
The Halifax team was made up entirely of ‘rookies ‘, except for triple amputee, Andy Atkinson. He used his experience to guide the team around the pitch, helping them gain an impressive 48-4 win. the ‘fax scorers were as follows:
Julio Hernendes – 14 Points (3 Tries, 1 conversion )
Joe Calcott – 4 Points (2 conversion)
Jack Stockton – 8 Points (2 Tries)
Mohammed Rakhman – 8 Points (2 Tries)
Andy Atkinson – 14 Points (3 Tries, 1 conversion)
Their next game is at the Inspire Sports Centre, Calderdale College on June 18th, when we will be taking on York, another new team. kick off will be at 2.30pm. Why not come along, it’s free to watch.
Saturday 20th May
Halifax were missing a couple of players in Nathan Holmes and Sebastien Bechara, however they still fielded a side with plenty fire-power.
Fax opened the scoring within the first 5 minutes, with Wayne Boardman scoring a try and converting from the touchline. The Roosters replied almost immediately with a converted try, making it 6-6.
Jeremy Bouson restored the Fax lead with a midfield break to score four points, with Boadman converting. However, that’s about as good as it got for the Fax in the first half, as the Roosters strangled the Fax attack, who gave them a helping hand with countless unforced errors, and the Roosters surged ahead to go in at half time 38-12 up.
Back out after half time, Fax really needed to get themselves back in the game by scoring first. However that didn’t happen and the game simply went away from them, in a disappointing display by the current Grand Final trophy holders.
Despite tries from Rob Hawkins and Tom Green and a Boardman conversion, Fax went down 66-22 to a very good London Roosters side, who were simply much better on the day.
Following an application for the Creative Minds initiative on behalf of South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS FT (SWYPFT), Halifax Wheelchair Rugby League Club has received funding to deliver a new programme of wheelchair rugby league activities.
The programme will run for 12 months, from June 2023 to May 2024 and will consist of forty wheelchair rugby league sessions at Calderdale College’s Inspire Centre.
Outlining the plans for the sessions, a Halifax Wheelchair RL spokersperson said:
“We aim to use wheelchair sports as a ‘ vehicle ‘ to deliver a program of inspiration, education and activity. This takes the shape of building confidence in people who maybe low in it, maybe not living a healthy lifestyle. We start by showing just what a sports chair is, what it does and how to use it. How to keep healthy as energy is expelled, Introduce ball skills and team work. Then introduce confrontation in a game scenario. Participants will also learn how to respond to aggressive play and or controversial decision making.”
Sunday 19th March: Wigan v Halifax
Venue: Robin Park sports centre, Loire drive, Wigan, WN5 0UH.
Kick Off: 11am
Parking is Pay @ Display but if you go to the reception and say you are participating you will be given a day PASS.
Sunday 9th April: Halifax v Warrington
Venue: Sedbergh Leisure Centre, Low Moor, BRADFORD.
Kick-off: 11am
MAGIC WEEKEND
Saturday 15th April: Halifax V Wigan
Venue: Birmingham University
Kick Off: TBC
Saturday 20th May London v Halifax
Venue: Medway Park, Gillingham
Kick-off: 1pm
MAGIC WEEKEND
Saturday 3rd June: Leeds v Halifax
Venue: Newcastle
Kick Off: TBC
MAGIC WEEKEND
Saturday 24th June: Hull v Halifax
Venue: Manchester NBC
Kick Off: TBC
Saturday 8th July: Warrington v Halifax
Venue: Birchwood High School, WA3 7PT
Kick Off: 2pm
Players and Officials are welcome to park in the school car park, but we ask all spectators to park in the shopping centre car park – you get three hours free parking and then can pay and display for any further time if required – the foundation are charging for all foundation games this year to help the long term sustainability of all formats of the game – entry is £5 for adults and £2 for concessions, we will accept card or cash payment. Nicki would you be able to send me your squad and officials list on the Friday if possible, so we know who is not to be charged!
MAGIC WEEKEND
Saturday 29th July: Halifax v London
Venue: Medway Park
Kick Off: TBC
CHALLENGE CUP FESTIVAL
Saturday 15th July: TBC
Venue: HULL
Kick- Off: TBC
CHALLENGE CUP FINAL
Saturday 19th August: TBC
Venue: Sheffield
Kick-Off: TBC
Sunday 10th September: Halifax v Hull
Venue: Sedbergh Leisure centre
Kick Off: 2.30pm
Sunday 24th September: Halifax v Leeds
Venue: Sedbergh Leisure centre
Kick-off: 2.30pm (could change to 2pm earliest if need be)
PLAY OFFS
Saturday 30th September-Sunday 1st October: TBC
AWAITING on exact day from RFL
GRAND FINAL
Friday 13th or Saturday 14th October: Manchester
AWAITING on SKY Sports to confirm exact day.
Our new project, ‘ The Next Generation’ has received £1400 from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund towards the project. We thank the Community Foundation for Calderdale for their assistance in receiving this award.
Here’s the letter of thanks we sent them:
The Sir Tom Finney Sports Centre at UCLAN, Preston hosted the opening event of the 2023 Wheelchair Rugby League Season when sixteen teams converged in West Lancashire for the annual; and traditional 4s completion.
Teams are reduced from five to four-a-side and play twenty minutes, one way in a fast, frantic and fun competition aimed at giving teams a pre-season hit out and as much game time as possible. The morning session featured eleven teams from the Betfred Championship, travelling tune length and breadth of England to participate.
Woodlands Warriors came from Kent and competed with the powerhouses of Wigan Warriors, Leeds Rhinos, Widnes Vikings and Sheffield Eagles. It was wonderful to see the famous names of Hull Kingston Rovers and Salford Red Devils making their first appearances in the Wheelchair game and enjoying success on the playing field.
The afternoon session so the tempo and intensity increase as the Betfred Super League teams entreated the arena and fired the opening salvos of the year. Defending champions Halifax Panthers looked ominous and intend to be at the top again in 23. Wigan Warriors will make them work hard and clearly showed their intent with fierce performances against those who might challenge the established order.
Hull FC, Warrington Wolves and London Roosters used the competition as an opportunity to give everyone a run and, in some cases, taste the high octane Super League game fro the first time.
All is set fair for Round One of the Betfred Wheelchair RL Super League next week in Gillingham, Wigan and Warrington
Report: Halifax Panthers’ new Development Team’s first Game away vs Rochdale Hornets Wheelchair RLC, Sunday 26 February 2023.
This game came about because of the boost interest in playing our game after the England world
cup win and Halifax winning the Grand Final in 2022, both being televised.
Both teams held a minute’s silence in memory of Zak Dewhurst who was to have been the team’s coach.
Tom Green scored the first ever development try with debutant Joe Calcott then scoring 3 more in quick time, with his style emulating that of his older brother Jack Brown.
Rochdale soon got into the pace of the game too, with the half time score being Rochdale 10 Halifax 38.
However, come the second half, Halifax monopolised possession and junior Tom Robinson scored his first ever tries with a brace. Jordan Holt a former dual registered Rochdale player finished with 5 and Tom Green 3 with 4 conversions from Calcott and Jordan with 5 as the game finished:
Full Time Score; Rochdale 26 Halifax 66
We are pleased to announce that a new sponsor has been secured for Halifax Panthers Wheelchair Rugby League Club, in ACL Industrial Flooring.
They will be the 2023 Leisure wear sponsors and Principle sponsors for 2024, and 2025.
Our Chair Donna Turner said “ we appreciate their support so much, which will help us expand our club with the creation of a development team and have more venue hours. Training will not only be at our historic base of Calderdale College on a Thursday evenings 7-9pm starting 2nd March, but at Sedbergh Leisure centre, Bradford, primarily for the super league team to train and play on a full size surface. “
Halifax Wheelchair Rugby League Club are running more ‘TRY IT’ Sessions in 2023.
Venue: Calderdale College , Inspire Sports Hall. Please book in your attendance with Malcolm Kielty 07946510900 or malcolm.kielty@outlook.com
Dates
2023 ( All School Holidays )
Thursday 16 th February 6pm till 7pm
Thursday 13 th April 6pm till 7pm
Thursday 1 st June 6pm till 7pm
Full Squad Training
The full squad starts on Thursday March 2nd, 7pm till 9pm and every Thursday thereafter
7pm till 9pm. Head Coach Wayne Boardman , England World Cup winner.
Halifax Wheelchair Rugby League Club 