Underbank pick Lock to seal first win of new season
UNDERBANK opened their account for the 2019 season with a hard-fought 28-22 victory at Lock Lane.
Rangers thoroughly deserved the win, even though they trailed 22-12 at the break.
A steadfast defensive effort in the second period stemmed the home side’s efforts to extend their halftime lead as Underbank gradually wore down their opponents to score three second-half tries and take the two competition points on offer.
Rangers had ex-Giant Lewis Graham on debut while leftwing Tom England was making his season’s bow, and half-back Luke Pogson was playing his 100th career game in Underbank colours.
Underbank dominated the early exchanges, but against the run of play the home side opened the scoring as the ball was moved swiftly for the leftwing to race over.
The conversion attempt hit the upright and the hosts led 4-0. However, Underbank regained the ball from the kick off, and after a strong burst from front-row forward Ashley Webb, the ball was transferred to Tom England, via Pogson and centre Matt Gruber, and the young winger flew through the air for a spectacular finish.
Pogson couldn’t add the extras from the touchline and the scores were tied at four apiece.
Underbank were in control with Webb, Graham, Andy Boothroyd and Tom Stringer dominating the middle of the field, and they added a penalty on 14 minutes through Pogson.
However, Rangers couldn’t turn their dominance into points as Lock Lane went back in front as they stretched an over-worked Underbank defence and popped over for a try in the right corner.
The conversion was added and the hosts led 10-6 after 26 minutes. Underbank responded immediately as Owen Restall stabbed through a perfectly weighted kick for Jamie Stringers to win the foot race and touch down. Pogson’s conversion off the crossbar took his side back into the lead at 12-10.
Inexplicably Rangers then made some schoolboy errors in their own half and Lane crashed over for two quickfire converted scores on 36 and 39 minutes.
Despite the scoreline, the mood in the changing room was extremely positive as the team tried to fathom how they were behind at the break, and in the second half Rangers eliminated the errors of the first period.
After weathering Lock
Lane pressure, Underbank grabbed the initiative when Clinton Eastell barrelled over from short range on 57 minutes and just four minutes later Gruber took a pass from full-back Jakob Garside and he crashed over in a two-man tackle.
Pogson converted the first try and with just under a quarter of the game remaining the score was 22-22.
Both sides went hammer and tong to gain the upper hand, but it was Underbank who grabbed the winning score on 71 minutes when back-row forward Will Broadbent-Allen ran a beautiful line to take a pass from Pogson.
He was tackled short of the goal line, but somehow reached out one-handed to plant the ball over the line for a tremendous winning score. Pogson completed the scoring with conversion, and even though Lane tried desperately to level matters once again defence from the visitors sealed the victory.
Ashley Webb won both the Bengal Spice man of the match for a tireless display (46 tackles and 14 carries) and the Red Lion, Jackson Bridge, Players’ Player of the Match with a huge contribution in the front row.
All 17 players put in a great effort to gain the two points, but particularly outstanding besides Webb were both debutant Graham and Broadbent-Allen.
Underbank entertain Cumbrian visitors in the form of Wath Brow Hornets on Saturday, March 23, at the Cross Grounds, with a 2.30pm kick-off.