Along tough day in the heat, Is what the Tigers found in Halifax against unbeaten Boothtown. With 17 players unavailable to coach Hagger, he had to play himself along with 3 new players 1 he signed on the day and another who hadn't played rugby before in his life.

Tigers still went across with optimism and hope, the only thing that held the Tigers back was fitness because they more then matched the Terriers in all aspects of the field.

The Tigers started great with back to back sets making Boothtown work from their 20m zone but after a break down the Tigers right from the centre who pass inside to the full back to score it looked like a long afternoon ahead, 6-0 after 6 minutes. Tigers kept on battling and challenging the Terriers line but the last pass went a rye or wrong option but signs was there for a competitive game.

21 minutes and the stand off for the Halifax team showed and went and managed to squeeze through for a converted try 10-0, then straight from the kick some tired defence let them break from their 20m zone and the 6 finished it off 16-0, 24 gone. Then Tigers after a rallying call from the team that they wasn't going to give up Tigers got some ball in the right area and after some good build up the ball went left to James Winstanley who gave out a nice cut pass to Adam Newby to score his 10th try of the season, Liam Ward converted 27 minutes 16-6.

32 minutes and Tigers in the ascendency, once again the ball went left and Newby threw off 3 defenders to score his 11th of the season. Liam Ward slotted over 16-12, The Tigers pack was making yards into Boothtown and with Jonny McGee and Danny Pickles there was no backward step been taken, backed up soundly by Nick Mitchell who once again topped the Tackle charts for the 6th game in a row but was also making big yards.

Then a blow to the Tigers on the stroke of half time a crash over try to give the half time score a flattering look of 22-12. But Tigers was hopeful of a big second half.

H/T Boothtown Terriers 22 Ossett Tigers 12

With players dropping quickly due to heat and injury the Tigers lost a lot of shape and the 1st 10 minutes of this half Tigers struggled with 2 new players on field but the lads stood up stoutly new prop Ryan Johnson and the 3rd Pickles brother Nathen kept going and never backed down. on 43 minutes the scrum half scored out wide no kick but 26-12. 50 minutes and another passing move saw the 6 score his 3rd and kick made 32-12.

On 63 minutes a nice passing move saw the Tigers go around the Terriers with Newby creating space for Adam Firth who was bravely struggling on with a shoulder injury who drew the fullback and passed inside to Craig Colbeck who missed the ball and Simon Hagger who was also backing up the ball bounced to him and he raced 20m to side step the covering tackler and score under the posts 32-18.

Craig Colbeck kept probing with his runs and passes and was looking good, but on 75 mins with the tigers on the attack a lazy tackle gave Marcus Stocks who had started in the centre and playing really well was moved back to his accustomed position of prop almost score but to be denied 2 yards short, on getting up ball was stripped and referee who had a good game overall said knock on, This gave Boothtown chance to crash over this time by the prop. 38-18.

The last 3 minutes was spent camped on the Terriers Try line and on 79 mins Nick Mitchell who had a try chalked off 5 minutes earlier, come bumping onto the ball and crashed over through 3 defenders to score, and with last kick Liam Ward converted.

F/T Terriers 38 Tigers 24

Coach Hagger " I am gutted about the score line due to not thinking Boothtown was 38 points better then us, the only difference was the fitness and 3 inexperienced players on the bench. Could I put any of my players at fault? No not at all. To be honest a found a deeper character that the lads had to never give in. I believe in these boys and with average age of 24 and that's only up there because of me at 36. We will go again next week with Scarborough at home but a quick mention about Sam Degnan who had never played before and Nathan Pickles who put his hand up in the morning and signed on. These will become Tigers in no time"

As always Up The Tigers