Amateur RL: Injury-time agony for brave Underbank Rangers

Sep 22 2009 by Peter Barrow, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

HUDDERSFIELD Underbank Rangers face a sudden-death play-off after having victory snatched away at Bramley Buffaloes.

Rangers were just seconds from booking their place in the RL National Conference grand final only to concede a late try and so go down 30-24.

They now face an elimination semi-final against Nottingham Outlaws at The Cross on Saturday.

The prize up for grabs is a chance for revenge over Bramley in the final at Warrington’s Halliwell Jones Stadium on Sunday week, October 4.

Rangers had looked in a healthy position to win through at the first time of asking when full-back Chris Thorley kicked a penalty to edge them 24-22 in front two minutes from time.

However Bramley’s Paul Drake slotted over a 35-metre penalty to level the scores and, with extra time looming, Drake charged down a drop-goal attempt by Rangers’ player-coach Richard Knight and had the composure to collect the ball and outpace the cover to score underneath the posts and then add the goal for good measure.

Underbank created the first opening on two minutes when Tom Senior was put into space.

He looked to outpace the Bramley covering defence, but his inside pass was collected by Shaun Flynn, who returned the ball with interest.

On the back of this attack Bramley forced a drop-out which came to nothing, however a second drop-out resulted in the ball being spun from left to right allowing centre Matt Mullholland to cross out wide. Drake added a superb touchline conversion.

The flow of the game was marred by a succession of penalties, and on 15 minutes, the referee’s patience was tested too much and he sin-binned Drake for one high shot too many.

Underbank took full advantage when hooker Andy Boothroyd proved too strong and scored by the posts.

Half-back Neil Barrett added the conversion to tie the scores.

Bramley replied within three minutes when, following good runs by Craig Green and Chris Gardner, loose-forward Richard Hulme powered over.