Penalty count frustration for Rangers coach

Photo: PICTURE: CHRIS SUNDERLAND

Rangers’ Tom Robinson is held as he tries to make ground.

Rugby:

A LATE try condemned Saddleworth Rangers to a 20-18 defeat at home to Milford Marlins in their rearranged Tetley’s Challenge Cup, first-round tie at Shaw Hall Bank Road.

Shane Tupaea’s side led or were level for 75 minutes of the clash, which survived a morning pitch inspection.

But aspirations of a second-round clash away to South-West London later in the month were dashed when Aaron Jones-Bishop touched down at the death.

Rangers then had two players, Matt Fogarty and Craig Farrimond, sent off for foul and abusive language towards referee Michael Mannifield, as their hopes of staging a late fightback evaporated.

Tupaea said: “There were some positives — the pack was quality and our set completion rate was good — but there also things that need looking at.

“We gave away 17 penalties and it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to work out that requires improvement.

“In a way, the result was a blessing in disguise. We probably thought we were at a certain point in our

development, when in fact we are further back.

“It wasn’t the start we had planned, but it wasn’t too disastrous and we learn and move on.”