Perrin blast as Underbank beaten by leaders Bramley

Aug 14 2007 by Chris Roberts

UNDERBANK slumped to another defeat against one of the Conference National’s top two sides.

Despite ending Bramley’s unbeaten league record when they visited The Cross in July, this time Rangers were convincingly beaten 54-18.

Ten days ago, Underbank came unstuck at Featherstone Lions – a game which they led at half-time.

And this latest result compounds further misery on Aaron Perrin’s side as they look to clinch a fourth-place finish at the end of the season to ensure a home tie in the play-offs.

For the second consecutive game, the player-coach was fuming after the final whistle.

Following the Featherstone defeat, the Australian criticised his team for ‘throwing the match away’.

But, instead of condemning his players, on this occasion Perrin was angry with the referee.

“We had some bad decisions go against us,” he claimed.

“For example, we were getting penalties awarded against us for things I believed weren’t actually penalties, like supposedly holding players down for too long.”

The first of Bramley’s 10 tries came after only two minutes when second-rower Gareth Thirsk powered over the line.

The Leeds-based side increased their lead soon after, courtesy of Marc Gibson whose flamboyant dummy deceived the defence and enabled him to touch down.

After 17 minutes, Underbank briefly fought their way back into the contest when Hirst managed to intercept the ball and race 90m to score.

However, the hosts then restored a comfortable lead with a try apiece from Thirsk and Graham Harrison.

In what was turning out to be a one-man show in terms of scoring for Rangers, Hirst crossed for his second after 35 minutes.

But the league leaders improved their lead once more when sloppy defending by the visitors in the final minute of the first period allowed Jon Nicholls to touch down.

Unfortunately for Underbank, if Perrin hoped for a miraculous turnaround in fortunes after his motivational half-time team talk, it didn’t work.

The hosts continued their scoring rampage and limited Rangers to one solitary try from Hirst who duly completed a deserved hat-trick.

Tries from Thomas Webb, a second for Nicholls, Danny Mitchell, a third for Thirsk, and Nick Walker, sealed a convincing victory.

Perrin said it was a disappointing day but his team did show good effort.

“We had nine players unavailable, including Paul Lord, Matthew Lodge and Tom Senior,” said the Underbank boss.

“They are key men so we were always going to be up against it.

“I’m still confident we can manage a good finish in the table.”

Having failed to pick up any points in their last two games, the visit of Dewsbury Celtic to The Cross on Saturday takes on even more significance.

In their last meeting back in May, Underbank were on the receiving end of a 28-16 defeat.

The fellow West Yorkshire side, who Rangers have two games in hand over, currently occupy fourth spot in the league – the position sought after by Perrin’s team.

“To be honest, the Dewsbury game has been in our minds for a while,” he added.

“Next week we will have at least three or four players back who play in key positions,.”.

Bramley: Coates, Fontaine, Walker, Drake, Richardson, Pendlebury, Gibson, Butterill, Asquith, Mitchell, Speight, Thirsk, Nicholls. Subs: Webb, Harrison, Gilmour, Hesketh.

Underbank: Flookes, Booth, Hirst, Roche, Berry, Price, Birt, Tarazi, Jackson, Lofthouse, Hawkyard, Edwards, Vinaka. Subs: Lodge, Leach, Lord, Greenwood.