Buoyant Underbank Rangers could be timing their run towards National Conference League Second Division promotion glory to perfection.
Victory in Saturday’s play-off final at Leigh East (2.30) would secure back-to-back promotions for player-coach Richard Knight’s men.
And the signs suggest it could be Underbank’s day.
Despite the massive blow of losing inspirational loose-forward Kris Harrop with a dislocated shoulder during last week’s 20-18 extra-time semi-final triumph at Blackbrook, Rangers head to Leigh Sports Village in relatively good shape and knowing what’s required to succeed on the big play-off final stage.
Having beaten Crosfields 12 months ago in the Third Division play-off final and featured in several Division III Grand Finals before that, Knight’s side knows what’s required when the stakes are at their highest.
And with an unbeaten five-match run behind them, the Bank boss feels confident about his club’s chances.
“After losing four on the bounce in August, we just haven’t looked back,” said Knight, who has named himself at scrum-half for a game that kick-offs on the pitch adjacent to the Leigh Sports Village venue where England RL are hosting France in the one-off international clash.
“To respond to that awful month the way we have shows the strength of character this squad possesses.
“During the course of the season we’ve suffered setback after setback - to have been without senior players likes Andy Boothroyd, Neil Barrett, Lee St Hilaire and Craig Williams for almost the entire season through injury is bound to hit any squad hard – but every time we’ve been able to fight through it and come back stronger.
“That’s exactly what we’ve been able to do over the past month and put us in the position we are now.
“Losing Kris Harrop is massive for us – he’s been one of our best players this year and set up our two early tries before going off injured at Blackbrook last weekend – but I’m really confident we’ve still got the side to get the job done.
“It won’t be the end of the world if we don’t win – I’d have bitten someone’s hand off if they’d given us a play-off final spot in our first season in the Second Division – but we’re definitely going there to win.”
And it’s that final experience which Knight believes will hold the key.
“Ten of this year’s team were part of the side which won last year’s play-off final and six were involved in our Third Division Grand Final success a couple of years before, while our current Aussies have played in arguably far bigger play-offs games back home.
“Add to that the fact we’ve also got Paul Reilly in the side, who’s obviously played in a Challenge Cup final with the Giants and represented England, and you’d have to say we’ve got the players with the experience and know-how of what it takes to win a game like this one.
“In comparison, Leigh East haven’t played in anything like this for a number of years now, so it’s going to be a totally new experience for them.
“That could make a huge difference on the day.”
Underbank Rangers: Druett; Allette, Chatterton, Reilly, Tinker; Croker, Knight; Valentine, Pogson, Selmes, Turner, Murphy, Williams. Subs: Berry, Farrand, Nelmes, Holmes.
