Bank beaten as Lions roar to victory

May 1 2007 By The Huddersfield Daily Examiner

HUDDERSFIELD Underbank Rangers were unable to build on their solid success at Gateshead Storm as they suffered a 32-10 Conference National defeat at East Lancashire Lions.

The visitors were up against it from the start, with player-coach Aaron Perrin, right, having to be drafted in at centre at the last minute to cover for late withdrawals.

And the early signs didn't look promising as the Lions were quickly ahead thanks to a try from hooker Phil Cheetham.

Fortunately, however, that was the signal for Underbank to come to life and by the 14th minute they had hit back with an excellent try when winger Napolean Vanaka finished off a superb handling move in the corner.

At that stage the contest could have swung either way, with both packs fighting to gain supremacy.

But it was the Lions who were the next to strike as Anthony Murray fed Dan Armstrong to score out wide and put the home side in control.

Good work from Paul Wilcock then gave the Lions their third try and, at 16-4 at the break, the game was starting to slip out of Rangers' grasp.

And their task got even harder at the start of the second half as their hosts raced in for three quick tries.

Within minutes of the restart, Paddy O'Grady raced in after good work from Murray, and then Murray again opened up the Rangers' defence for Jonathan Petty to race through.

From the kick-off, Paul Draper caught the Underbank defence napping and fed James Harper to score under the posts for Petty to add his fourth goal and make it 32-4.

But all credit to the Huddersfield side for refusing to wave the white flag as they went on to dominate the final quarter, with their efforts finally rewarded when another good move set up Perrin to cross.

Max Berry landed the conversion to complete the scoring.

It was a positive end to the contest for Underbank, but they now face another blank weekend in a stop-start opening to their season.