HUDDERSFIELD UNDERBANK RANGERS 28 HEMEL STAGS 18 – The Cross

Rangers closed the play off gap, moving to within two points of the Stags in a definitive game of two halves.

Hemel dominated the first period but Underbank turned the tables in the second half to run out deserved winners of a tough, punishing battle.

The hosts welcomed back top try scorer Adam Ryder, speedster Leon Alexis-Bailey and cornerstone prop Dave Valentine in front of healthy and vociferous home crowd as they looked to continue their winning run.

Stags were at full strength and looking to extend their impressive run of a single defeat in eight outings.

The opening quarter was dominated by the visitors but they could not convert their opportunities into points in the face of some determined and stern home defence led by tackling machine Valentine, Tom Antony, Victor Smith and man of the match Craig Williams.

Hemel also put in some huge hits through prop Joey Crompton-Meyer and classy back rower Saimon Lomaloma.

Several times last ditch tackling held out the visitors as back rower Aaron Hall and prop James Howitt were both held up over the line and the highly impressive Jamie Acton was hauled down inches short as Hemel pounded the home line in the early exchanges.

As so often happens, in the 15th minute, on raising the siege, Rangers broke out decisively on the counter.

The ball was moved swiftly in their own quarter through Lee St Hilaire and Alex Chatterton to release right winger Ryder on a thrilling touchline dash only for him to be superbly tacked by the custodian BJ Swindells.

After quelling the Rangers break, Hemel then opened the scoring when Huddersfield spilled a last tackle cross field kick.

The ball was quickly transferred to the left for BJ Swindells to crash over and he added the conversion, his first of three successes.

Rangers continued to struggle out of their own territory but when they did, winger Richard Aka twice went close to scoring.

After 35 minutes they levelled the scores when Adam Carroll scooted out from dummy half and handed on to the powerful Craig Williams.

Williams broke the line, raced thirty metres and as the attack seemed covered, he superbly offloaded to the supporting Antony who brushed off three would be tacklers for a fantastic score, Nathan Williams converting.

Seemingly going in level at the break, Rangers pressed the self destruct button as first Valentine and Nathan Williams lost the ball close to their own line.

From the latter mistake Hemel swept the ball swiftly to the right and Acton powered through the tacklers for the Stags to regain the lead.

In the second half, Rangers took full advantage of the slope and wind in their favour and kicked Hemel out of the game as they punted the ball downfield early in their sets and then contained the Stags in their own quarter, forcing many errors with their ferocious defence.

From one such hoof, Hemel turned over possession and quick Underbank hands sent the ball to Ryder who raced over for his 12th try of an impressive debut campaign.

The conversion was missed but Nathan Williams levelled the scores shortly after with a penalty conceded after holding down in the tackle.

In the following set Aka broke from deep and was only denied a score by a second try-saving tackle from BJ Swindellls.

Nevertheless, Aka was next on the score sheet with a simple walk-in try after good approach work from the two Nathans, Williams and Chappell.

Rangers were in front for the first time in the game and looked to have the bit between their teeth.

Highly impressive loose forward St Hilaire was next to score when, on the last tackle, he picked up the ball at acting half back and carved his way through six defenders from 20 metres out that had the crowd on their feet in appreciation of a fantastic solo effort.

Hemel did not throw in the towel and Acton and BJ Swindells both went close to scoring in the left hand corner but Ryder sealed game with his second touchdown.

Appearing to be well covered, he shrugged off the attentions of several tacklers to race over to clinch the three points for Underbank.

There was still time for the Stags to gain a bonus point and they achieved it after a short period of pressure on the home line saw giant prop Howitt power over for a deserved consolation score which could prove extremely important in the final standings come the play-offs.


WARRINGTON WIZARDS 48 NOTTINGHAM OUTLAWS 14 – Wilderspool

Wizards continued their excellent run and went top of the table on Saturday night but their win over the expansive Outlaws was not as convincing as the final score suggests.

The visitors were always enthusiastic and played some excellent rugby at times, Paul Calland throwing the ball long and wide to good effect and centre Steve McNamara a real strong and direct runner.

Warrington took control after a very defensive opening quarter hour when a quick ball from stand off Alan Reddecliff found prop Matt Clarke who flicked the ball on to Shaun Gilmour who scored at the side of the posts.

Fifteen minutes later, Outlaws fought back when centre Dom Walsh crossed in the corner to bring the score level at 4-4.

The hosts took control with two tries in four minutes in the lead up to half time begun with a kick from the base of a scrum in their own half by Ian Stephenson.

Full back Ryan Cosgrove won the chase and only the concession of a penalty by Nottingham prevented a try as the hosts whipped the ball out through several pairs of home hands.

A quick play the ball from the tap again saw the ball moved wide and winger Dave Yii was uncovered on the overlap to cross at the corner.

On 37 minutes, a terrific drive from Gilmour found winger Graham Healey in support and he went over to make the half time score 12-4.

Wizards began the second half strongly, substitute Dan Stubbs found the roaming Gilmour and he linked well for Stephenson to score, Warren Ayres kicking the first successful conversion of the afternoon to give Wizards a 14 point lead.

That was soon shortened when a swirling bomb by the visitors was collected by full back Will Reive and he raced over, Oliver Crick goaling.

Their revival hopes were dashed, however, when an offload from loose forward Matt Wilson found Gilmour again to give him his second try of the afternoon.

Warrington then took charge, Wilson re-gathering his own chip and finding Clarke on his shoulder, for the front rower to power in.

With ten minutes left, a good pass from Gilmour enabled Yii to claim his brace and, with a move seemingly going nowhere, Matt Taylor straightened and found a gap, releasing Reddecliff  who scored in the corner, Nick Owen converting.

Nottingham commendably refused to capitulate and McNamara dummied through for a deserved, classy score.

In the closing minutes, an interception from Reddecliff  saw him race 30 metres, uncovering Owen in his inside to score Wizards’ ninth touchdown, between the posts, Gilmour adding the extras.


FEATHERSTONE LIONS 18 DEWSBURY CELTIC 28 – Millpond

Two tries at the beginning of second half, one from influential stand off Scott Dyson, and a late brace from towering back rower Liam Walmsley saw Celtic close to within a point of the Lions in the race for the top six.

Along with Walmsley, Danny Thomas and Scott Wilson were in the thick of the action for the visitors, while for the Lions, John Smith never stopped trying and Ian Jackson and Danny Richardson impressed alongside Aaron Thirling.

The low scoring first half was dominated by Lions but they failed to turn their pressure into points due to some excellent Celtic defence.

Featherstone went close in the early exchanges, Smith and Richardson posing an instant threat and a clever Danny Glassell break giving Smith another tilt.

On virtually their first attack, Dewsbury did find the line, a Josh West run and fine handling allowing Jack Millington to go over in the corner.

Glassell expertly took a Dyson bomb and Luke Beecher’s excellent run seemed to have put Stu Davies over for the hosts only for the referee to rule that he had a foot in touch.

Thomas pulled off a terrific try saver on the marauding Smith after he had raced 35 metres while Dyson’s clever kicks in response kept turning the home side around.

Dyson’s 40/20 set up another threatening position for Celtic but a chip over was knocked on with the line begging.

Featherstone did open their account when Steve Coutts opened up the visiting defence and Smith supported from 30 out to power across for a deserved score.

Thomas diffused a Jackson bomb and Millington had a good touchline run in reply, his chip being expertly read and picked off by Glassell as the side went in level at the break.

With coach Paul Heaton’s instructions ringing in their ears, Dewsbury made a flying tart to the second half, Dyson re-gathering his own chip to cross and Nikki Crabtree goaling.

Two sets of six later, Joe Diskin crossed to put the visitors in charge, Crabtree landing his second goal to make it 16-4.

A Coutts 40/20 gave Lions field position but with Thomas outstanding in defence, Celtic withstood a 15 minute pounding on their line, Smith, Jackson and Richard Frankland all going close.

Crabtree had a try disallowed for a forward pass in response before the hugely impressive Walmsley took matters into his own hands.

The young forward, who has been receiving rave reviews, proved unstoppable powering in for two tries in five minutes to secure victory for the visitors.

A last ditch fight back from Lions earned them a point, however, the ever-industrious Smith crossing for his second try after good work by Coutts and Thirling from a Jackson tilt ensuring, with Frankland’s goals – one from the touchline, that the final margin was below 12.


KIPPAX KNIGHTS 10 BRAMLEY BUFFALOES 40 - Welfare Ground, Sunday

Bramley convincingly regained top spot and denied Knights a double with a commanding performance.

Knights scored first and last but in between they were second best as the Buffaloes laid down a pre-play off marker.

Paul Drake pulled the strings for the visitors in a dominant performance and the hosts were not helped by sin binnings of influential Chris Redfearn and Gavin Adkin in the second period.

Buffaloes’ big pack got on top early and made sure that the Knights had little momentum, Richard Hulme and tireless prop Richard Leese taking control for the visitors once they were in control.

Stand off Chris Knowles got Kippax off to a perfect start, romping over out wide for an unconverted try in the first minute and the home defence seemed solid against the Bramley six.

Gradually, though, the visitors got on top and Leese led the way, powering over the first of his two tries with an unstoppable charge in the 13th minute.

John Elliker came off the Bramley bench and immediately made his presence felt splitting the defence for the first of his brace.

Drake converted both and in the run up to half time jinked over for a try of his own, which he converted, adding a penalty in the closing action of the first half to make it 20-4 at the break.

Elliker bagged his second two minutes into the second period to effectively seal the win but Bramley were relentless, cultured centre James Brown following him across six minutes later.

Shaun Flynn was next to find the line as Knights struggled to get back in the contest, Leese bagging his second and his side’s seventh touchdown to cap a fine, power-packed display.

Kippax had the satisfaction of claiming the last score, winger Wayne Little on hand to capitalise on a rare passing movement, Adkin goaling.

Knights remain fourth but only a point separates the sides above and below them as the jostling begins for the play off positions.