Halifax Vandals 59-7 Sheffield Medicals

Halifax Vandals were on cloud nine after a stellar display saw them dismantle Sheffield Medicals at Warley.

The hosts ran in nine tries against a side tipped in some quarters as being serious contenders for promotion from Yorkshire Three, with the versatile Jimmy Crowther also racking up a personal 19-point haul.

The forwards led the way with Ben Burnside (2), Joe Bryson, Paul Jowett, Jamie Richardson and Danny Mitchell all crossing, while Crowther, McAspurn and Ben Simms ensured the backs also got in on the try-scoring fun.

With a vocal crowd, swelled by Ralph Pollard’s 63rd anniversary as a Vandal celebration, cheering them on, the Vandals got off to a flying start as skipper Jowett opened the scoring from a pick and drive.

That set the tone for the rest of the half as the Vandals pack terrorised the Students. However the Vandals had to cope with being down to 14 men first after Luke Sutcliffe, returning to the side after missing the first two games of the season, was yellow carded.

Being a man down didn’t seem to impact the Vandals initially, though, as Crowther slotted over a penalty. However Medics took advantage of the spare man, cutting through the Vandals defence to score a converted try through Tim Baldwin.

The joy of the visitors was short lived, though, as the Vandals pack moved through the gears - and loosehead prop Burnside rediscovered the form that once saw him finish the season as top try-scorer. Burnside powered over twice from close range as the Medics had no answer to the power up front. Crowther converted both for a 24-7 lead at the break.

Playing down the slope for the second half, the Vandals cut loose in emphatic fashion - with a deluge of tries.

The impressive Crowther, switched to fly-half after filling in at 9 for the opening two games, made a superb line break and converted his own try for a 31-7 lead.

The Vandals went through the phases for Richardson to cross, while the pick and go routine resulted in hooker Bryson registering his first of the campaign.

A superb lineout steal from Isaac Pollard provided the platform for Mitchell to crash over before the back wrapped up proceedings. First McAspurn showed neat footwork to score, then Crowther added another penalty before before Simms was on hand to finish off a good line break from Fowler.

Vandals will now look to carry this form into next week when they make the trip to Hemsworth.