UNDERBANK Rangers may be having a weekend off.
But the men from The Cross know that when they return to competitive action the following week, they’ll still be sitting proudly at the top of the National Conference League Division III table.
And adaptable winger Will Midgley couldn’t be happier about it.
Having spent the winter seasons playing with Ovenden, Midgley is now back for good to help steer the Rangers to bigger and better things.
The attractions of the Halifax side were apparent to the in-form flyer, and he even featured in Ovenden’s Challenge Cup defeat in February.
But having switched between the two famous amateur rugby league clubs, it’s clear The Cross is now called ‘home’.
“With Ovenden it was simple because it was where I was from and I knew the lads there, so I used to travel over every week to play,” said Midgley.
“But the style of play was nothing compared to what you get here at Underbank, and that played a massive role in leading me back.
“The team has been extremely successful recently because of the work ethic and skill we have.
“You don’t have to smart to see that Underbank are going places.”
Midgley didn’t hesitate to compare Bank’s traits with former team Ovenden, announcing that the side from Holmfirth was head and shoulders above their counterparts.
“There is such an improved amount of talent needed to play for Underbank as opposed to Ovenden,” he added.
“Skill is required for all teams at this level, but the skill Underbank holds is way ahead.
“When you spend time with other teams after playing for Underbank, you start to notice a drop in quality.
“For instance, at other clubs all the play may be stuck to one side of the pitch or down the middle.
“But here, all the pitch gets used and it is a lot, lot better.”
But it wasn’t just the level of play that drew the winger back to The Cross.
Fellow teammates, staff and fans also had a sub-conscious part to play.
“The enjoyment I get here is down to the lads I play alongside,” he continued. “They’re such a good set and are a great craic, and you don’t get that everywhere.
“The coaching is also top quality. With the likes of Richard Knight you only have to look at what happens on the pitch to see how that pays off more than not.
“The atmosphere is always pretty good and, all-in-all, everything just seems better at Underbank.
“Hopefully, if we can get another pitch, then we can do what Hemel Stags have done and enter Championship I as a semi-professional club.
“We do deserve that recognition and we could really do with going somewhere after winning last year’s Conference National Grand Final.”
