UNDERBANK are celebrating a first ever league victory against Dewsbury Celtic!
The Holmfirth side won 12-7 at The Cross and are now fifth in the Conference National table.
It was a battling win for Underbank, who played up the slope and into the worst of the wind and rain in the second half but showed commendable strength in defence.
Richard Flooks was in fine form for Rangers, foiling Celtic’s first close effort at getting on the scoreboard by booting the ball dead and then opening the scoring himself at the other end.
After the home side had forced a drop out, Gary Keegan did excellent work driving the ball back and after prop Jason Southwell got involved, he released a long pass for Flooks to skip over near the flag.
Flooks then converted his own try in brilliant fashion from the touchline, but Celtic wasted no time in hitting back through winger Sheara Singh, who powered over in the corner after hooker Dom Byrne had been held up over the line.
In truly awful conditions, the kick was missed by James Eatherley and it wasn’t until early in the second half that they reduced the arrears still further with a drop goal from half back Danny Thomas.
Underbank then found themselves under tremendous pressure, but they held firm against several strong Dewsbury raids until home debutant Anthony Murray took advantage of a rare break to weave past three would-be tacklers and score. Flooks added the conversion.
It was the signal for Dewsbury to pressurise for almost the entire final 20 minutes, with mistakes aplenty on both sides, and there was fresh hope for the visitors when Eatherley landed a penalty.
But that was to prove the final score of the match as Rangers held on and Celtic dropped to second bottom of the table.
Underbank – Stringer, Flooks, Bostock, St Hilaire, Midgley, Garside, Murray, Valentine, York, Williams, Keegan, Stewart, Hawkyard. Subs used: Taylor, Bracken, Southwell, Leach.
