MILFORD MARLINS WIN TIGHTEST OF CHALLENGE TROPHY GAME

MILFORD MARLINS 15 V UNDERBANK RANGERS 14
CONFERENCE CHALLENGE TROPHY RND 2 @ THE ARCHIE GORDON GROUND
18 JUNE 2016 --- 2.30PM

The tightest of games that had been well supported by the 'game of two halves' theory was settled in the home sides favour when Martin Loveridge secured a moments space for his drop goal with 4 minutes remaining to set of joyous scenes shortly afterwards.
Back at base the heavy rain had put much of the cricket in doubt and so happily we set off with rugby league on the cards again this time with a possibility of three fixtures on our way to Leeds.  By the time we had arrived at base station though the decision was made to take in Marlins trophy game versus Holmfirth based Underbank Rangers.  The journey was not an easy one due to an incident on the way to Chesterfield a detour via Barrow Hill added some time to the journey but luckily held up in the delay was the all stopping train to Leeds.  We arrived at platform 17 and had plenty of time for the one o'clock train to Harrogate which would take us all the way over to platform 1!

THE FORMER STATION BUILDING AT HEADINGLEY

Arrival in Headingley at the small station was around 8 minutes later and as its name suggests also serves the cricket ground and Leeds Rhinos rugby ground today though we would turn the opposite way on Kirkstall Lane and after a downwards traverse we climbed before looking down Beecroft Street towards the Marlins Sports club and onwards into the valley our ultimate destination of Leeds Rugby Academy.

MILFORD SPORT CLUB TO THE LEFT

The club is an impressive affair with three separate rooms, one being enjoyed by one of the clubs many junior teams and an impressive changing room set up we popped inside bit before settling Mick had asked about chips and we were soon sent in the direction of where we had just come from.  Halfway back to the station we came into friendship with Kirkstall Fisheries for a sample of the finest, having mentioned the rugby club had sent us over the owner seemed quite happy.  Mick got into conversation rather dangerously trying to order a bread crumbed fish cake, in Yorkshire there are only Yorkshire fish cakes Mick!

LUNCH STOP

Having escaped intact we enjoyed the delicacy and then dropped back into the club for a beverage of the non alcoholic variety.  Thanks to the officials from Milford who supplied us a team sheet we were well sorted to take the 1/4 of a mile walk to the ground.  The suggestion of a shuttle bus did come into mind but the downward walk is a slightly circuitous route that found us within 5 minutes at The Leeds Rugby Academy used by many clubs including Leeds Rhinos and Yorkshire Carnegie.

WELL MANICURED PITCHES AT THE ACADEMY

To the left are two rugby pitches the first with the plushest carpet of grass that any grounds man would be delighted with.  Straight ahead of us is the offices and facilities of the academy to the right is our pitch for today.  Milford are playing on a 3g caged pitch of which this will be the blogs first rugby league game on this surface it would be interesting to see how this compares with football on the same surface.

THE ACADEMY TO THE REAR OF TODAYS ACTION

Inside the cage after paying the £2.50 admission, for which was included a creditable effort match programme, there is quite a wide boundary around the pitch with up to the half way line on either side is a fenced off standing.  There are no dug outs and both sides technical teams gather just outside the spectator area on opposite sides of the pitch.  The ground is dwarfed by a massive electricity pylon and running adjacent to the ground is the River Aire and the Skipton train line.

OVERVIEW OF THE ACTION

Kirkstall Bridge to one corner is busy and just outside the ground the shopping precincts which include Boots and Morrisons are also generating a constant flow of vehicles.
Todays sides are warming up along with the referee and his 2 touch judges, just before the kick off Milford have the start of a glorified garage for final instructions and get together.  This being an all first division trophy tie and the league fixture last weekend that saw Underbank win their home match and with a further enticement of both sides being on 12 points it looked a good game on the cards.

By half time the visitors had took their chances and led 12-0 against a home side who appeared off the pace. First over after 7 minutes was [number 20-not listed on t sheet] with a comfortable conversion from Richard Pogson.  On the quarter of an hour mark great strength from Adam Ryder gave Pogson the chance for a second conversion, it was more remarkable in that it struck the left upright before flying across to hit the right post and dropping over!

REFEREE NEVILLE HAS A QUICK CHAT

Half time saw Underbank coach Richard Knight urge is players on he seemed aware that Marlins would fight to get back into this game, I thought the visitors looked pretty secure....he was right I was wrong.

HALF TIME GATHERING FOR UNDERBANK RANGERS

Within just 7 minutes of the re start James Barker had gone over with doing the necessary the deficit was halved.
A wise choice on 55 minutes saw Pogson kick a penalty after referee Harry Neville had penalised Marlins for a high challenge, 6-14.

TERRIER LIKE JOSH PARLE IMPRESSIVE PERFORMANCE

Strength and determination saw Tom Barnes go over the line for the Leeds side before Loveridge added the extra 2 points to bring the scores to 12-14 after 55 minutes.  The visitors number were reduced when Michael Murphy was sin binned.
As the game entered the final 10 minutes Marlins decided to kick a penalty and Loveridge was on target to excitedly pull the scores level.  There was now an excitement from the home supporters that they were in the ascendancy however a drop goal from either side could win it.

JOSH PARLE LOOKS UP TO REF HARRY NEVILLE

With just 4 minutes left on the clock Loveridge found time and space to kick and watch the ball drop through the posts and it would be this point that minutes later would settle the tie.

C'MON I WILL HELP YOU UP

After a couple of one sided games this was a tremendous hard fought tight game of rugby league that Underbank would feel unlucky to have gained nothing from but the undoubted second half strength from Milford saw them over the line.

WALKING BACK UP THE HILL TO THE CLUB

Am enjoyable afternoon in west Leeds and following a comfort stop at the club we left for the station as the Marlin layers were climbing back up the hill to their changing rooms and a 3rd round tie.
Back at Headingley station we heard the sounds of the nearby Queenswood Cricket Club in action and observed a selection of allotments being tendered before we boarded our train back to the busy city of Leeds.  With a comfortable train connection we arrived back over the Yorkshire border into base station at just before 1830.