Amateur RL: Lions’ late try hits Underbank Rangers title hopes
Jul 7 2009 by Neil Farrell
Rangers should have increased their lead twice as wing Nick Bellas missed two gilt-edged chances.
Firstly he dropped the ball 15 metres out with a clear run to the line and secondly when he was forced into touch after being released by centre partner Johnson.
The Lions had repelled the best that Underbank could throw at them and then had a great chance of their own as outstanding centre Steve Laurie broke from his own 20-metre area and raced 70 metres before being hauled down by the covering defence.
Featherstone moved the ball quickly to the right, but a poor pass resulted in the chance to score gone and possession handed over.
The Lions turned the game on its head in the second half as theydominated with prop forwards Darren Fisher and Chris Bingham prominent throughout.
However, it took a breakaway try to haul Featherstone back into the game as back row forward Mark Kear released the supporting half Adam Jones, who handed on to the flying winger Sam Wilson to race over.
Huby added the conversion and the game rested on a knife edge with Rangers holding a slender two-point advantage.
That lead was stretched to four points as the Lions were found guilty of ball stealing in the tackle, and Barrett slotted over the penalty goal.
Underbank then spurned two golden opportunities to seal the match when Darren Hawkyard raced 20 metres to cross the line, but he lost the ball in a last ditch challenge, and then wing Richard Aka couldn’t quite reach a dabbed kick through from Barrett.
The final quarter ebbed and flowed but rangers looked all set for the win only for Watson to crash over and gain a point.
Underbank Rangers: Joe Worthington; Richard Aka, Chris Johnson, Arran Crabtree, Nick Bellas; Chris Thorley, Neil Barrett; Napoleoni Vinaka, Andy Boothroyd, Richard Lofthouse, Gary Keegan, Tom Senior, Darren Hawkyard. Interchange (all used): Sam McCluskey, James O’Brien, Shaun Mitchell, Carl Leach.
Featherstone Lions: Tom Coad; Josh Hardcastle, Stuart Davies, Steve Laurie, Sam Wilson; Adam Thaler, Adam Jones; Darren Fisher, Dean Gamble, Chris Bingham, Mark Kear, Paul Watson, Danny Huby. Interchange (all used): Gareth Jones, Simon Child, Rich Frankland, Craig Barker.
