Underbank Rangers could be celebrating promotion from Division III of the National Conference League this weekend.
If player-coach Richard Knight’s side secure an expected big home win over Peterlee tomorrow and Blackbrook lose at Eastmoor, then it’ll be party time at The Cross!
Rangers moved to within touching distance of promotion on the final week of the regular season with a battling 16-16 midweek draw at Featherstone Lions.
It was the first time Featherstone had dropped a point all season, and Knight knows that if they are pipped to second spot by Blackbrook this weekend, his side will head into the play-offs for the third promotion place in confident mood.
“We came away from Featherstone feeling a mixture of emotions,” said Knight.
“We’re obviously delighted to have become the only club to have taken a point from the Lions this season, but we’re also disappointed we didn’t win the game.
“Had we taken the right option on a couple of occasions early on we could have been 12-0 up and well in control of the game, instead it was 10-10 at the break and a great chance had gone.
“Having said that, the point does mean we could still be promoted this weekend, so it could have been a lot worse!
“Even though we’ve spent the past couple of days patching everyone up, we still know we’ve got a squad capable of doing a job on Peterlee this weekend.
“We’ll be bringing in a couple of boys who haven’t featured over the past few games, and I know how much they’ll be keen to prove a point.
“Everything is in place to make tomorrow a very special day.”
Knight has confirmed Luke Pogson and Luke Karolczuk are among those ready to feature again, while Knight is gearing up to play himself.
The changes have been made because of the injuries picked up at Featherstone by influential Australian back-rower Matt Adam (calf), Michael Lang (shin), Neil Barrett (wrist) and Andy Boothroyd (thumb).
The knocks picked up summed up the nature of the midweek contest, with both sides giving it 100% from start.
Within five minutes Adam had been forced to withdraw and Featherstone rubbed salt into the wounds by following up to score against the run of play.
But two tries in three minutes from Luke Nelmes and Lee St Hilaire, the second of which was converted by Barrett, gave Bank the lead before the Lions struck back to level matters at the break.
The second half started superbly as Boothroyd forced his way over from dummy half, with Barrett converting to restore the six-point lead.
Unfortunately, despite great efforts from the likes of bustling prop Luke Nelmes, who picked up the Bengal Spice man-of-the-match award, hooker Stephen Berry and lively lock forward Sam Rochford, the Lions hit back again to make sure the honours ended up being shared.
