Rangers star injured after skiing accident
ENGLAND RULED OUT OF HISTORIC BULLS SHOWDOWN
TALENTED Tom England will miss the biggest match in Underbank Rangers history against Bradford Bulls in the Coral Challenge Cup – because of a skiing accident!
The 19-year-old stand-off missed the third round victory over West Wales because he was on holiday, when a crash on the piste looks to have left him with a cruciate knee ligament injury.
It’s a massive blow for the player and also for coach Richard Knight, whose side take on the Bulls at Dewsbury’s Tetley’s Stadium on Sunday (1pm) in the fifth round of the famous old competition.
“Tom is only a teenager, but he has been playing really well so, while we are really disappointed, he is absolutely heart broken,” said Knight, whose team don’t start their National Conference Premier season for another couple of weeks. “He has been looking forward to playing this season at No.6 and trying to establish himself, but he’s been away skiing and had this accident.
“It’s a real sickener for him and for us, especially as he played in the first two rounds of the Challenge Cup and did well so, like I say, he is gutted to be missing out.”
Knight is putting final preparations in place and has been forced to rule out two more key players.
Forwards Ashley Webb and Will Broadbent-Allen are both missing the tie against John Kear’s Betfred Championship side – who are fivetimes winners of the Cup.
“Ashley was one of the best props last year but he broke his jaw in Round One and still isn’t right,” explained Knight.
“If it was an absolute clincher for the club then we would probably risk it, but we have to be mindful that we have 26 rounds of the league coming up, so it’s not worth it.
“He is bitterly disappointed, as is Will. He suffered ankle ligament damage in the first round and we are not going to risk him against Bradford.”
Underbank – 135 years old and boasting great names from their past like Harold Wagstaff and Neil Fox – will take an army of fans from Holmfirth and the wider Huddersfield rugby league public.
Knight just wants his players to enjoy the occasion.
“We don’t want to play the game before we get there and be mentally exhausted,” said Knight.
“All the pressure is on Bradford, totally. They are the professionals, they are favourites and they are expected to win, whereas we have absolutely nothing to lose.
“We have a Wednesday-Friday training schedule this week and we are meeting up at Total Fitness – who have made their facilities available – for a get-together and a bite to eat on Saturday, before heading off home to relax ahead of the game.
“We want to stay as composed as possible because we are determined to give a good account of ourselves on what will be a great day for the club, for the spectators and for the town of Holmfirth.”