Underbank win after penalty ‘shoot-out’
Rogers, Casey Clark and Danny Hirst, while the Sharks had ex-professionals Paul March and Ash Linsday debuting in their ranks.
The Sharks started well and on three minutes opened the scoring after Underbank were caught offside.
The ball was moved swiftly to the right and quick hands released centre Nathan Wright to score in the corner and Flowers kicked the difficult conversion.
The visitors almost doubled their lead as again Wright crashed over, but he lost the ball in attempting to ground it.
Shaw Cross dominated play and they looked likely to score again on 16 minutes, but Rangers’ centre Alex Chatterton intercepted a March pass, intelligently passing on to his wing partner Sam Ansell who raced 70 metres for a tremendous try.
Pogson converted and the momentum of the game changed with Sam Rochford, Craig Williams, Clark and Rogers all making massive in-roads into a tiring Sharks’ defence.
On 23 minutes Underbank were in again as Rogers made a break and found Kris Harrop, who handed on to the supporting Pogson for a great try.
Pogson skewed the conversion wide, but the home side increased the lead when Harrop found wing Tom England who touched down for his first try in Underbank colours.
Pogson hit the right post with conversion attempt.
Sharks hit back when full back Sam Ottewell joined the line and had the pace to score. Flowers added the extras and he did so on half-time as the former Giants player March scored, and the Sharks led 18-14 at the interval.
Rangers regained the lead in the second half after a Craig Williams led a charge down field, and Pogson kicked to the corner and England leapt to take the ball and touch down.
Pogson’s kick went over via the right hand post, and Underbank were ahead again 20-18 after 42 minutes.
Back came the Sharks as they were awarded a penalty for offside and Flowers kicked it to level the scores once more.
Flowers put Shaw Cross in the lead on 58 minutes with another penalty goal after Tom Stringer was found guilty of a tip tackle.
Chances were at a premium now as both sides struggled with pace of the game and the referee’s pickiness as 16 penalties were awarded in the second half, the majority for technical offences rather than for foul play.
On 73 minutes Pogson evened up the scoreboard again after a Sharks’ high tackle to set the dramatic conclusion for the appreciative crowd. Hunslet Club Parkside ...1 York Acorn ........................... 1 Milford Marlins .................. 1 Hunslet Warriors .............. 1 Underbank Rangers ........ 1 Blackbrook .......................... 1 Normanton Knights ......... 1 Shaw Cross Sharks .......... 1 Hull Dockers ....................... 1 Lock Lane ............................. 1 Ince Rose Bridge .............. 1 Featherstone Lions ......... 1 LEEDS are staying at Headingley says Rhinos chief executive Gary Hetherington.
Hetherington has quashed rumours the club are set to move to Bradford Bulls’ Odsal Stadium during redevelopment work at their own ground.
Hetherington said Rhinos will play all their home fixtures this season at Headingley and have “not contemplated” taking matches elsewhere.
A report in the League Weekly newspaper claimed the Rhinos “could have a surprise new home for the back end of this season – Odsal Stadium”.
The report went on to add: “The last five or six Rhinos ‘home’ games of this term could be switched around the outer ring road to the Provident Stadium with a similar number at the beginning of next season taking place there.”
In response, Hetherington said: “I am aware of the report that has merged. The report has no foundation to it – I don’t know where on Earth it has come from.”
Rhinos had hoped work to rebuild Headingley’s iconic rugby South Stand would begin at the end of last season, but funding and planning issues led to a delay. Planning permission for the South and Main stands was granted in January. FORMER Huddersfield Giants skipper Steve McNamara is set to be confirmed as the new assistant of New Zealand.
The 45-year-old former England head coach will be officially confirmed as David Kidwell’s assistant at a press conference in Auckland.
A former Great Britain forward, McNamara coached England between 2010-15 but was not offered a new contract despite winning the Test series against the Kiwis in his final act as coach.
NcNamara guided England to a World Cup semi-final in 2013, agonisingly missing out on a place in the final when Shaun Johnson scored in the final minutes to send New Zealand to the final.
McNamara recently became the assistant coach of New Zealand Warriors, working under the former Kiwis chief Stephen Kearney.