UNDERBANKS RUN CONTINUES UNDER THE ARCHES

UNDERBANK RANGERS 40 INCE ROSE BRIDGE 18
NCL 1 AT LOCKWOOD PARK
8 JULY 2017 --- 2.30PM

SAM ANSELL GOING OVER FOR UNDERBANK AT LOCKWOOD PARK

Underbank Rangers run continued with this win over their Lancashire visitors, the Holmfirth based side look to be heading towards an appearance in the NCL Premiership next season.  Ince Rose Bridge put up a superb effort in the sweltering heat but it was always Rangers who remained a step ahead of their challengers in a game that twice saw tempers boil over including one mass coming together in the final minute.  It was double tries from Sam Ansell and Owen Restall that helped the table toppers over the line with Richard Pogson converting all bar one making it a successful afternoon.
After a few weeks at the cricket I was aware of the need to get back into the wonder that is rugby league and when I noticed that Underbank had switched their game to Lockwood RUFC the choice was made.  From the heights of the Lockwood viaduct its a ground that on journeys to Huddersfield via train I had peered down into and often suggested a visit, today there was a chance to do just that.  The blog has covered Underbank on a few occasions now and once again I have to say even though they were not at their natural base what a friendly club this is, I add to that the supporters from Ince Rose Bridge who were a credit today to turning out in nice numbers to follow their side.

THE 1410 LOCKWOOD TO SHEFFIELD TRAVELS OVER LOCKWOOD VIADUCT

The journey to todays encounter would need 2 changes in Sheffield and unusually in Barnsley due to a temporary service while industrial action took place on Northern Rail services.  But all ran smoothly and if anything was quieter than normal so again today the Penistone line was the preferred way of travel.  The change in Barnsley, were women are women and men are scared,  allowed for a quick look around and the mayors parade was shortly to decamp into town but soon after boarding the Huddersfield we departed at a new station and area for the blog.......Lockwood. 
Lockwood, a suburb, of Huddersfield was very much as expected a busy area with routes into town prominent through the area.  Formerly called Crossland it was taken over by the Lockwood family, a few years back, from the former, rising up the hill from the station is Crossland Moor a pay off to the former successors I guess.  Just up the road from the station is the David Brown gears factory and division of the tractor factory which any child of a certain age may well remember from the days of model vehicles.

DIXONS MILK ICES IN THE FORMER LOCKWOOD TOWN HALL

We were off in the opposite direction and first reference point following a bit of pre visit research was Dixons Milk Ices based in the former Lockwood Town Hall and a reputation for ice cream remains soundly there's in the area.  I decided on a sample more of which later but for now a quick look around the shopping area revealed nothing of shopping interest and so by the River Holme it was time to enter the ground by the main Brewery Drive, there are 2 entrances the other one onto Meltham Rd would facilitate my exit.  Having paid the £3 entrance fee and obtained the ever quality programme I decided first on a look at the home of Lockwood RUFC.

WADE STAND AT LOCKWOOD PARK

First lets say why Underbank are in their words 'taking a game on the road' there will be a need next season, if the club are promoted to meet ground grading requirements and the current ground does not do this at present.  It is a great shame as a visit to the Cross Ground is a must for any sports fan but the set up here at Lockwood is equally to be admired and of course viewed with the prowess of the dominant Lockwood Viaduct.  A few facts 32 arches, 1350 feet long and between 122 and 132 feet high depending on the source indeed the height led to a challenge of throwing a cricket ball over the viaduct in 1938.  The person who succeeded was Jack Crum of Armitage Bridge who completed the feat which has been done on an irregular basis over the proceeding years but is probably not to be considered if you value your shoulder.  The site was the home to the former Lockwood Brewery founded by Timothy Bentley later to become the Bentley & Shaw Brewery, purveyors of ale to the good folk of Huddersfield and beyond.  The ground then to the right is the entrance to the club which has many wood panelled rooms and function suites there is an excellent information board on the brewery and Lockwood RUFC in the entrance, the balcony also offers a commanding view of proceedings.  The Wade Stand is the main accommodation area with a pitch railed off in its whole and hard standing again all the way around the pitch.  To the right the dug outs are met behind with a small banking area which allows a good view and suntrap for todays crowd, the rest is standard RUFC fayre with an electronic scoreboard which was sadly not in use today.  Added to this are smart rejuvenated buildings which now offer business and sports a home on site but of course the striking aspect of the ground is the viaduct which carries the Huddersfield to Sheffield line.  The whole structure is a grade 2 listed building and is so impressive I'm not sure as pictures do it justice you have to see it.  Through the arches there are further rugby pitches and a Astroturf caged pitch for hockey.

RICHARD KNIGHTS GRANDAD A YORKSHIRE GENTLEMAN

Having completed the grand tour it was good to catch up with a Rangers manager Richard Knights granddad and Richard himself who I had, unbeknown to me, met at my visit a few weeks ago in their game versus Hunslet Warriors.  He did pull me up for calling him a 'gentleman' but as per my last visit he offered a warm welcome and friendly chat, good to meet you again sir!  After a few greetings from some other familiar faces it was also a pleasure to speak to a few of the Ince Rose Bridge supporters thank you, a friendly sport rugby league.

MATCH REFEREE TOM SCOTT

To the game and the visitors in a good seam of form must have fancied their chances but within the opening 9 minutes they were 2 tries and conversions down to nil Ansell and Restall going over with Pogson converting both efforts.  The deficit was halved when, and pardon me here for names I was at the wrong end for the visitors tries, Jamie Malone went over with Robbie Valentine converting.  Restall and Pogson created a maximum again to restore the difference before Danny Hirst and Pogson increased Rangers lead.  Again the visitors fought back and reduced the difference with Johnny Brown over the whitewash for Valentine to add the 2 points.  We arrived at half time 30-12 when opening try scorer Ansell went over again and Pogson completed the job.

A SHADED HALF TIME BREAK FOR INCE ROSE BRIDGE

Half time saw Ince Rose Bridge's coaching team the need to battle this one out and how they did with a sturdy second half effort.  The second half started well for the 'home' side with Courtney Allette going over on the left but on this occasion Pogson missed the kick by a very small margin.  Sam Rochford went over by the post and that man Pogson added to his tally to take the score to 40-12 to end Underbank's scoreboard effort for the afternoon.

COURTNEY ALLETTE ABOUT TO POWER ON

The visitors suffered a reduction in number on 64 minutes when Jamie Malone saw red, there was time for Ince to add a further maximum when they broke away sweetly for Daniel Cassidy to go over with Valentine completing a hat trick of conversions.

SAM ROCHFORD GOES OVER FOR UNDERBANK

As the game drifted away a high challenge on Ranger's Rochford led to two separate greeting sessions before everybody came together for a discussion on the incident!  Referee Tom Scott showed a red to Hirst for the home side and two yellows one for either side.  As tempers frayed in the final minute it was all soon over when the final whistle blew and the conversation returned to a friendly 'your buying the drinks then', you've got to love rugby league players non of your softy football lads.

CLOSER GREETINGS IN THE FINAL MINUTE

With just short of an hour to wait for the train back the decision was made earlier to visit Dixons Milk Ices after the game, upon arrival there was a large queue outside the premises but upon arrival in the parlour the option was taken up for a tub of ice cream which came surprisingly in a polystyrene tube similar to a large cartoon of peas from the 'chippy'.  Wafers, spoon and ice cream in bag a sharp walk to the station allowed me to enjoy the product before the hot weather took its effect.  While awaiting the return train a local chap appeared it this empty station carrying his shopping bags to announce in a bluff Yorkshire accent 'tha wont get a train from here today lad'.  Aware there was industrial action it was a good bit of advice but thankfully I had viewed the emergency timetable and the last train at 1702 did arrive a few moments later not before we had a nice chat which revealed he lived at the house on the station forecourt!
Return changes completed at Sheffield and Barnsley we soon arrived back at base station just short of 7pm.  A must visit for any sports fan who likes their grounds too and as ever a very enjoyable trip into Yorkshire.