Close cup battle in prospect

Apr 20 2007 By The Huddersfield Daily Examiner

EMLEY Moor and Newsome Panthers are ready to do battle in the Supplementary Cup final on Sunday.

The sides will go head-to-head at Lockwood Park at 2pm, with the outcome almost impossible to predict.

The Second Division sides will both start on scratch under the competition's handicap system, and are in a rich vein of form.

Newsome warmed up for the showdown with a 60-7 triumph over Ovenden A, while Moor beat Dearne Valley 60-12.

So with confidence in both camps high, this weekend's clash should be intriguing.

Meanwhile, a derby-day triumph tomorrow will put Slaithwaite Saracens on the verge of taking the Pennine League Division IV title.

Coach Steve Russell's side entertain Underbank Rangers looking to secure an 18th win from 20 starts.

It should prove a relatively straight-forward assignment against their mid-table rivals.

But with Underbank not in Conference National action this weekend, they may give some of their summer squadmen a run-out.

It was a similar situation a week ago when the Saracens were pushed all the way by a Brighouse Rangers side boosted by the inclusion of several players from their National Conference League team, who didn't have a game.

As a result, Slaithwaite were forced to dig deep and grind out a 17-7 win thanks to tries from Ryan Small and Lee Hurd.

And with derby honours at stake tomorrow, this has all the makings of a top-quality encounter.

Underbank warmed up for this big meeting with a 50-10 triumph over Meltham All Blacks.

And that means Meltham will obviously be determined to bounce back when they entertain Stainland Stags.

In Division I, both Huddersfield teams are in action - and both should be confident of success.

Moldgreen have home advantage against Illlingworth, while St Joseph's should be able to secure the points at bottom club Westgate Redoubt.

There's also an away trip for fourth-placed Lindley Swifts, who face a tough test at second-placed Littleborough in Division III.

In Division V, Moldgreen A are at Halifax Irish A, while there's a big derby battle in Division VI, with Slaithwaite A hosting St Joseph's A.