UNDERBANK STORM PAST INCE ROSE BRIDGE

UNDERBANK RANGERS 52 V INCE ROSE BRIDGE 20
NCL DIVISION 1 @ THE CROSS
2 JULEY 2016 --- 2.30PM [ACTUAL 2.50PM]

A storming first half performance from Underbank Rangers saw them reach the break 30 points to the good without reply and although the second half was better from the visitors the damage was done with the home side sneeking the score line again running out 52 - 20 winners overall.
The blog had seen Rangers at Milford Marlins a few weeks ago and head coach Richard Knight had suggested a visit for a 'club like no other' and indeed a Milford player had tweeted after a recent game that he had never before been sea sick on a rugby ground before.

HOLMFIRTH WITH A FRESH RAIN SHOWER IN EVIDENCE

Fairly early set off from base station saw a change at Sheffield before a departure at Honley Station short of Huddersfield for a bus to Holmfirth home of Underbank Rangers.  The line to Huddersfield is really pretty especially after Penistone and upon departure was made better by an awaiting link bus the 911 from Stotts whose driver took us onto the connection in the village and advised me of a cheaper ticket that would do the job for us today.  It wasn't too long before the 314 dropped us off in Holmfirth where we made a hasty look around and while trying not to make any references to The Last Of The Summer Wine TV show, of course it was futile and we failed miserably.  Chips today were gleaned from Hollowgate Fisheries and were of good standard before departing back to the small bus station there was a photo op at Sids Café.

SAY NO MORE

Up the hill to The Cross Ground saw the bus deposit us just a few yards past the grounds reverse track entrance indeed the return is even better with the bus stop directly opposite the entrance.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF THE CROSS GROUND

The ground is situated in the most beautiful of countryside high up over Holmfirth and as previously hinted at the pitch floats and dips away all over but it is well looked after and indeed has had a trim yesterday in a window of opportunity when the wet stuff wasn't making an appearance.

BACK TOWARDS THE CLUBHOUSE

To our left is a club house with changing rooms built in the 1950s this side is railed off but the remainder of the ground is not.  The bottom side of the ground behind the sticks is stone walled off along the opposite side the same boundary applies and on this side are a couple of smart dug outs with between theses a style type wooden ladder for ball retrieval from the neighbouring field.

FROM THE POSTS LOOKING TOWARDS ENTRANCE

Behind the posts at our entry point is an adjacent farm which is often seen in pictures of this ground.
So mini tour completed and we popped into the bar for soft drinks were there are as at most rugby league clubs a lot of history reminders.  Here Underbank and Holmfirth have a famous son in Harold Wagstaff who played for the club in 1905/6.  Born in 1891 he went onto sign for Huddersfield in 1906 to play on the then entitled Northern Union putting pen to paper at just 15 years and 175 days old indeed he made his England debut at just 17 years and 288 days old.

HAROLD WAGSTAFF UNDERBANK RANGERS, HUDDERSFIELD AND ENGLAND

During todays warm welcome from club officials I also learnt that the TV programme Where The Heart Is filmed their rugby league scenes at the ground something you may catch as the series seems to be re shown on Freeview regularly.  Having purchased a few drinks at the bar we popped back out to pay ourselves in and get the excellent programme once again meeting a friendly welcome from the gateman and assistant indeed this was the overriding impression gained at Underbank, a friendly welcoming club.

SMART DUG OUTS AND THE VIEWS

Two quick promotions for Underbank had seen them plying their trade at Divison 1 and nicely holding their own and todays visitors Ince Rose Bridge would be a tough test with both sides situated close by in the table.  The game however did suffer a delayed start with the visitors not arriving until 2.15pm.  So we kick off 20 minutes late and by the time the first 10 minutes had been completed it was the visitors who looked stronger.

EARLY ACTION FOR RANGERS PHYSIO LAURA WILSON

[Bear with any errors here they will be amended if there are any its always difficult with a camera and getting numbers too, thanks]
Something though changed and by half time 'bank' were 30-0 to the good.  First over was Alex Chatterton with Richard Pogson converting after 11 minutes and then a few minutes later in the opposite corner Jaydon Covell-Wood went over the whitewash Pogson just missing the conversion.  Underbank were 16 to the good on 22 minutes Kris Harrop kicked on and went over after an error from the visitors with Pogson this time converting.  Still the scoring kept coming and Josh Dixon touched down from 'banks number 7 to add to his conversions after 27 minutes.

DAVE VALENTINE IS STOPPED

Ince Rose Bridge would have felt hard done by shortly afterwards when Robbie Valentine twisted to touch down but the touch judge failed to see this and the referee could not award what was a clear try.
Insult was added to the visitors felt injury when before the break Tom Eidson twice went over in the corner to make it 30-0 at the break.

RICHARD POGSON LINES ANOTHER CONVERSION UP

The visitors started strongly in the second period when Peter Valentine kicked on and went over for Robbie Valentine to convert.  However Rangers were straight back on the attack with Covell-Wood goind over for Pogson to add the two points.  As play swung from end to end it was the visitors turn next with Keiron Murphy adding four more points in the corner after 53 minutes to make it 36-10.
Four minutes later Alex Chatterton gave the home sides reply as he went over the line with Pogson missing the conversion.  It was not long before Pogson was converting Adam Ryder's try to make it 46-10.

Still Rose wouldn't lie down with Tony Barker feeding Robbie Valentine the latter converting to make it 46-16 and although with 4 minutes to go the same partnership secured maximum a try again for the visitors that wasn't before Pogson had gone over between the sticks and converted for Underbank.

There were a couple of sin bin's for the visitors in the second half for Martin Greaves and Brad Roden which didn't help the visitors cause although you had to admire their fortitude in the second half as they came back into a 40 minutes they could have lost heavily.
This had been a great game for the home side with lots of points and a second half that saw the visitors come back with a real fight to gain something from the game. 
Many stars today but I have to include Frankie Lee Underbank Rangers supporter who cheered on every player and set for the home side a character for sure well supported today by Grace, whose other half was turning out for Rangers, who made up this mini team of encouragers, go for it!

FRANKIE LEE [RIGHT] AND GRACE TODAYS SUPPORTING 'A' TEAM

Great characters at this club summed up by the above and the community feel surrounding the set up in the most beautiful of surroundings if you have never visited Underbank Rangers do it you will not be disappointed.
The late start meant that we had to depart sharpish at the end if we were not to be delayed for the train and the adjacent bus stop was a blessing as we were soon on our way to Honley to arrive back with half an hour to walk back to the single platform station.  It had all gone so well today until we arrived for our change in Sheffield with an emergency on the line and trains being delayed we popped outside for a bus to base town with added about 3/4's of an hour to the journey finally arriving back at 8.15pm.
With danger of repeating the blog very rarely fails to enjoy a sporting visit to old and new grounds but todays at Underbank Rangers saw a little gem appear for the blog its right up at the top thoroughly enjoyable and I look forward to visiting again very soon!