Rangers lads on different planet

SADDLEWORTH Rangers under-18s missed out on a close encounter before kick-off under the floodlights at Keighley Cougar Cubs.

This Gillette National Youth League fixture was won by the visitors 36-6, thanks to a performance which was described by coach Phil Costin as “excellent”.

The only thing Rangers failed to capitalise on was an apparent pre-match sighting of a UFO in the Keighley skies, with the team not being aware of such an event taking place.

The home side made a good start to take an early lead but Rangers soon fought back through a try from Steven Nield, converted by Ethan Langhorn.

Rangers were then reduced to 12 men with prop Tony Morrison going into the sin bin, but before he returned to the fray Mitch Birch had given the team an advantage they would not go on to relinquish.

Nield and Morrison both went in before half-time, Langhorn adding two more goals for a 22-6 lead.

A Langhorn penalty was followed by tries from replacement Tommy Hurdus — on his debut, following a switch along with Danny Bowker from the Waterhead under-18s side which has disbanded for the season — and Morrison’s second.

“We were almost faultless and the team is going in the right direction,” said Costin.

“We haven’t been lucky with injuries this year, but when we get a strong side out we can compete with anyone.”

Rangers sit eighth in a league reduced to 13 sides following Waterhead’s withdrawal, with a top six play-off place once again the priority.

A FIRST-ROUND tie away at Hull Isberg awaits Saddleworth Rangers, following their 22-6 win at Eccles and Salford Juniors in the Carnegie Challenge Cup on Tuesday evening.

In the second knockout meeting of the two clubs this season — Rangers also won the first, 22-14, in round two of the BARLA National Cup — the visitors took control of the game from the off but only managed a single try before half-time.

It came through winger Fraser Coley, goaled by Michael Coates, to give Saddleworth a six-point advantage over the National Conference League division two side, who were relegated from Rangers’ section last year.

Saddleworth also bombed a couple of great scoring opportunities in the first period but after the break further tries from Lee Charlesworth, David Hewitt and Emerson Jackman, with Coates kicking two more conversions, ensured Rangers’ progression from the preliminary round stage.

“We let them off the hook a bit in the first half but we did a lot of the things we have been working on in training as well, which was pleasing,” said Saddleworth coach Keith Brennan.

“We scored our second-half tries as a result of the work we did before the break and Michael (Coates) and Charley (Lee Charlesworth) gave us a good kicking game.”

Danny Attersall, operating at full-back, was voted Saddleworth’s man-of-the-match on the night and the team now goes on to face Isberg on Saturday, January 24.

Oldham St Anne’s try again to get their Challenge Cup preliminary round tie at home to Wigan St Jude’s played this Saturday (1.30pm kick off), while Waterhead got a bye to the first round stage where they are at home to Castleford Lock Lane.

The latter clash represents the second successive weekend the Peach Road side will have played fellow NCL division two side Lock Lane at home, the first encounter arriving in round three of the National Cup this Saturday (2pm).

In the same stage of that competition on Saturday, Saddleworth Rangers are at home to Cumbrian side Hensingham (2pm).

THE draw for round two of the Carnegie Challenge Cup will be made at either Egremont Rangers or Wath Brow Hornets on Tuesday, January 27.

The decision on where to host the event, starting at 7.30pm, will be dictated by whoever wins the first-round clash between the pair three days previous.