UNDERBANK RANGERS coach Richard Knight is preparing for the tough task of playing four games in 13 days in National Conference Three.
However, he is certain his side will be sufficiently refreshed ahead of tonight’s home derby date with Bramley Buffaloes (7.30).
The fixture was originally to be played last month, but a serious neck injury to Bramley’s Dominic Liversidge caused the match to be abandoned before the hour mark and the rearranged clash adds to an already busy schedule but Knight is confident that his players won’t be suffering from fatigue following Saturday’s hard-fought 38-12 win at Bristol Sonics.
“It was a tough game at Bristol, but we should recover well enough, the struggle might come on Saturday when we will have had just a two-day turnaround to prepare for Nottingham,” said Knight.
“But in terms of personnel for tonight we will have some bodies to pick from with the squad back up to 18 or 19. Dave Pawson, Craig Williams and Rob Joyce will all be good to go, so hopefully myself and Matt (Larder) can definitely put our boots away for the rest of the season.
“We will have a look at Lee St Hilaire before the game to see how he is – he got about five minutes at Bristol, but we didn’t want to risk him for any longer than that.”
Underbank were firmly in the driving seat when this game was abandoned in June with the score halted at 36-6 in the home side’s favour, but the Rangers chief is expecting a tough game from the Leeds-based side and he believes their counterparts will use the events of the previous match to rally up a stronger performance.
“Since that game they have picked up some good victories, they beat Coventry and when they come to our ground I’m sure they will be spurred on, wanting to put a few wrongs right,” said Knight.
“The game didn’t finish on the best of notes because of them not fulfilling the 80 minutes and it left a bit of a sour taste in a few peoples mouths, so I’m sure their coach will have them all fired up for the game.”
