Amateur RL: Underbank's finest hour!

Jul 21 2009 by Chris Roberts, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

RICHARD AKA proved the hero of the hour as Underbank kept alive their Conference National title hopes with a dramatic 30-28 triumph over leaders Bramley Buffaloes at The Cross.

A Titanic ‘duel in the sun’ was only settled in the closing moments when flying winger Aka won the race to a Darren Hawkyard’s stabbed kick to complete a fine hat trick and seal a tremendous, winning fightback.

The victory helped Bank narrow Bramley’s competition lead to seven points, although Rangers have two games in hand.

And the Buffaloes’ bonus points picked up in this defeat and that at Nottingham two weeks ago may prove critical in deciding the Minor Premiers at the end of the season.

But whoever takes that crown, it will fail to erase the memory of Rangers’ finest hour in the competition.

The game opened at a ferocious pace with both sides’ packs of forwards putting in huge defensive efforts, but the first quarter belonged to the home side.

Neil Barrett opened Rangers’ account with a seventh-minute penalty conceded by Bramley for holding down in the tackle.

And Underbank’s early domination continued when Hawkyard broke the line 60m out, handed on to the supporting Shaun Mitchell who fed his wing partner Aka for the first score. Barrett added the extras and slotted over a penalty shortly afterwards.

After Mitchell had made a tremendous centre field break Barrett had the chance to extend the lead but pulled the penalty attempt wide.

However, Underbank increased their advantage further when Dave Valentine broke from deep and Gary Keegan continued the play to crash over and, with Barrett converting, Rangers led 16-0 after 20 minutes.

Bramley were shell shocked by their opponents’ early blitz, but they gained a foothold in the game when stand-off Paul Drake gave a lovely inside pass for powerful back rower John Elliker to crash over the line.