Halifax Panthers vs Oldham RLFC

Halifax Panthers began their hunt for a 2025 domestic treble in emphatic fashion as they cruised past London Roosters 46-24 to win the Betfred Wheelchair Challenge Cup at Robin Park in Wigan on Saturday 14th June.

Wayne Boardman's side making their first Cup Final Appearance in 7 years powered past their Super League opponents from the capital to lift the trophy for a record fifth time.

The Panthers are boosted ahead of their ambitious drive for silverware this season with the return of Inaugural IRL Golden Boot winner Jack Brown, who re-joins his hometown club after 5 years living in Australia, the 35 year old putting in a Man of the Match performance on the big stage to help secure the win for the men from West Yorkshire.

Current Golden Boot holder Rob Hawkins was also in glittering form, two tries and seven goals including a penalty saw the youngster leave Greater Manchester with a 22 point haul and another trophy for the cabinet as the England international shone brightly in Wigan.

It took just 3 minutes for Fax to open the scoring. Hawkins with an audacious switched inside pass to send Brown over under the sticks unopposed before a penalty put the Panthers into an early 8-0 lead. London hit back immediately though as Joe Coyd dummied his way over before Hawkins showed his international pedigree as a quickfire brace sent Fax into a lead they would never relinquish.

Coyd grabbed a second and Lewis King also crossed for the Roosters but tries from Wayne Boardman and Joe Calcott gave Fax a comfortable 30-16 lead at half time.

There was no time to take the foot off the gas though as London already showed their comeback credentials in this year's competition, coming from behind to beat Leeds Rhinos in the semis to make the showpiece event at Robin park. However, any danger of a fightback soon melted away as Finlay O'Neill went over just 3 minutes into the second half.

The Roosters tried to keep pace with a Mason Billington quick response four pointer making it 36-20, but this was Halifax's day! And there was soon no doubt about it.

Jordan Holt and Tom Martin further extending the Panthers' lead with neat finishes in the same left hand corner before a late Billington second try ensured the score line would remain respectable despite the dominance of the men in blue and white.

Wild scenes of celebration erupted as the full time hooter sounded in the background, Halifax Panthers had won the Betfred Wheelchair Challenge Cup for a record fifth time. Delight on the faces of the players, officials, and fans alike and the first step of Player Coach Wayne Boardman's three part masterplan for 2025 in the bag.

Sporting fans are a special breed. Whether season ticket holders that follow their teams home and away across the lands through the changing of the seasons, or the once a year entertainment chasers who chase the feeling of a derby atmosphere with the family, it takes all sorts to be a supporter.

And then there's the outliers. The ones that go the furthest mile, that couldn't even contemplate missing a single second of their favourite side in action. Mick Tattersall falls into that special category.

Sunday 15th June 2025 saw Mick attend his 600th competitive Halifax Rugby League fixture in a row. Travelling from his home in Doncaster, even games at The Shay would be considered away games for Tattersall, and the fact he uses public transport makes it all more impressive.

We caught up with the big Panthers supporter to hear about his highlights, favourites, and much more throughout his team following the club.

"I nearly had the kiss of death put on me [laughs]. The train I was getting to Widnes for my 600th game nearly got cancelled and there was some signalling issues but I made it there in the end. I sometimes doubt my sanity to be honest with you, I never set a target, it just sort of happened and all of a sudden here we are at 600 straight."

"The last game I missed was 26th September 2004. It was the semi final of the National League Two play offs when we beat York City Knights 37-20 at The Shay to make it to that crazy comeback game at Widnes. I've missed 2 out of the last 801 games, I don't count the covid games as nobody was able to go and I don't count friendlies but for competitive games, I'm always there."

"I'm from Halifax, born and bred in the Wainstalls area. My dad was a Halifax supporter and his dad before him so it must have been somewhere in my genes. I watched at Thrum Hall from being a young kid all the way up to 1964 when I joined the Royal Air Force at 18 years old. I moved to Doncaster in 1985 when I left so managed to start going to games again."

"In terms of highlights during my time following the club, one of the first ones is when we won the John Player Trophy in 1972. Wembley was obviously great in 87, never thought I'd see Halifax at Wembley and my dad was still alive then and he made it there so I feel really pleased with that. More recently, the Toronto Wolfpack trip was great. The Canadians are some of the friendliest people I've ever met and I actually consider it an opportunity lost in many respects. I really enjoyed that one. Australia at Thrum Hall was great, getting to see my son play in the curtain raiser at Wembley for Doncaster U11's in 1999, that was a brilliant personal moment. I've had some great times."

"Low points? Thank god I missed the Cawoods Challenge Cup game [laughs]. There was one year at Blackpool when Leigh beat us in the last minute of the Northern Rail Cup final, that was a low one. I try not to think about the low points too much though, but one of them was this year in fact in Toulouse. After the game, one of the French fans walking past me who spoke very good English said 'Is that your first team?' [laughs] I had to laugh it off and admit it was. And also going to every game in 2003 knowing we were going to lose every week, that was a bit difficult."

"My favourite players over the years? When I was younger, it was the great Colin Dixon. Charlie Renilson I thought was a fantastic player, really good. When I was at school, our PE teacher was Garfield Owen, he was a smashing bloke. There's been some many fantastic players over the years, one player I never used to like until he came here was Paul Bishop. A little nasty half back at Warrington who everybody hated but when he came here, we loved him. Les Holliday I always thought was a massively underrated player, Greg Florimo was good, Tony and Chris Anderson were brilliant players as well."

"Obviously, I've been to lots of stadiums as well during my time. I don't particularly have many favourites but when I went to Suncorp in Brisbane, that was good. The old Bramley ground was always an interesting one to go to. There's been some bad ones though, Owlerton, Don Valley Stadium and Odsal. Anywhere where you're far away from the pitch."

"I've loved my time following the club, the game has changed so much during my time as a fan. I feel the game is at a crossroads at the minute, struggling under poor leadership at the top, but I'll keep supporting the Panthers. I want to say thank you to all the friends I've made along the way over the years. See you at the next one."

The club would like to congratulate Mick on his amazing milestone and thank him for his loyal and unwavering support throughout the years.