UNDERBANK Rangers are on a revenge mission in Warrington on Sunday.
The Huddersfield side booked their first ever appearance in a Grand Final with a 44-10 win over Nottingham Outlaws, and they will lock horns with minor premiers Bramley Buffaloes for the fourth time this season – looking to avenge their recent play-off setback against the Leeds side – when they meet at the Halliwell Jones Stadium (kick-off 12.30).
A four try blast from Darren Hawkyard propelled Rangers to victory in a fine performance.
Rangers played well, especially in the first period as they controlled the game, and they will be looking for a similar performance next weekend.
Rangers went into the game minus the injured Tom Sharrock, Sam Housley and Graham Hyland, plus the unavailable Richard Aka.
Rangers opened their account after six minutes when, following a 40-20 kick by Neil Barrett, Hawkyard stretched out in the tackle to score.
Barrett added the extras, the first of six successful kicks, but the Outlaws then hit back and, after Rangers’ player-coach Richard Knight had spilled possession, Nottingham moved the ball swiftly and full back Will Thomas ghosted through to score. Cox couldn’t convert the try, but the Outlaws only trailed by two points.
Underbank were dominating possession and field position as winger Will Midgley went close, and their domination was rewarded when Chris Thorley kicked ahead for makeshift winger James O’Brien to latch on to the ball for his second try for the club.
Barrett converted from the touchline and, after Rangers’ strong defence had forced a goalline dropout, Hawkyard proved far too strong for the Nottingham defence to register his second score of the match.
Underbank continued to control matters and following a Richard Lofthouse break, Knight crashed over on the stroke of half time. Barrett converted to give Underbank a 22-4 lead.
The game was sealed for Underbank in the first 10 minutes of the second half as they hit Nottingham with a double salvo.
Firstly hooker Joe Worthington shrugged off several tacklers to score a deserved try and then centre Shaun Mitchell notched his 21st try of the campaign following a Barrett kick through.
With the game all but won Rangers lost the plot slightly.
However, after a strong word from coach Darren Turner, Underbank ‘got back to the script’ and finished the game strongly as Hawkyard completed his haul for the day with two superb finishes.
Underbank Rangers: Ritchie Hawkyard; Will Midgley, Richard Knight, Shaun Mitchell, James O’Brien; Chris Thorley, Neil Barrett; Dave Valentine, Andy Boothroyd, Richard Lofthouse, Gary Keegan, Darren Hawkyard, Tom Senior. Interchange (all used): Joe Worthington, Napoleoni Vinaka, Nick Bellas, Lee St Hilaire.
