Rugby League Coaching Manuals

Gillette Friday Night Floodlit Footy - Keighley Cougar Cubs 6 Saddleworth Rangers 36 - Cougar Park - In a match where the final score did not do full justice to the competitiveness between the sides, Saddleworth prop Tony Morrison’s second try mid-way through the second half ensured victory for the visitors.

Rangers built up a substantial early lead after quickly falling behind but the Cubs showed great tenacity to battle back, before Morrison ended their hopes in a contest that was preceded by the apparent sighting of a UFO over Keighley before kick off.

That seemed to inspire the hosts, who got off to the perfect start, in-form prop Samuel Walker continuing on his man of the match performance from the week before by powering over for the opening try in the first minute, Callum Hudson converting.

Few would have thought that they would be the only points the Cubs would post especially as it took until the 12th minute for Rangers to level, full back Steven Nield’s ever-growing menace seeing him jink over for a fine score goaled by Ethan Langhorn.

Having fought their way back into contention, Saddleworth were immediately reduced to 12 men when Morrison was sinbinned but just before he was due to return, Mitch Birch spotted a gap to ghost in and give his side a lead they never lost.

Five minutes later, Nield again cut through from the back to score and in the run up to the break, Morrison proved unstoppable from close in, Langhorn’s third conversion making it 22-6.

He added a penalty three minutes into the second period but the Cubs began to exert most of the pressure, Ethan Hawksworth having a try disallowed at the end of their best spell.

They were in the ascendancy again when Morrison struck as Rangers went on a rare excursion downfield, Birch then having claims for a second score ruled out on the hour for a knock on.

In the final minute, Rangers replacement Tommy Hurdos completed the try scoring with his side’s sixth but that was tough on the Cubs.

ROUND UP

WEST CUMBRIA consolidated second spot, just taking the spoils in a terrific clash with EAST LEEDS, in a curtain raiser at the Recreation Ground.

The opening exchanges were typically robust, including a number of crunching hits on both sides but a defensive slip by East Leeds, which winger Jon Ritson capitalised on, saw Wests take an early lead, Scott George converting. The visitors levelled on 11 minutes when Dan Hudson darted over from dummy half, Gareth Hynes adding the extras.

The game stayed level until the 25th minute when a neat chip over saw home winger Ben Swift touch down in the corner. More sustained pressure allowed West Cumbria to extend their lead soon after when a cut out pass from George found Ritson again who touched down in the corner to make it 14-6 at half time.

Easts started the second half well and within a minute had crossed from another dummy half scoot by Hudson, converted by Hynes, to reduce the gap to two points. The game flowed from end to end with committed tackling from both sides a feature until Adam Ramsden burrowed over from dummy half to extend the home lead to 18-12. 

Sustained pressure by East Leeds continued as they pinned Wests back, but the hosts were resilient on their own line. On their next counter, George dropped a 30 metre goal in the 63rd minute which secured victory in a contest that was a great advert for the under 18’s elite competition.

An outstanding centre’s display by two-try Josh Hardcastle was the key to FEATHERSTONE LIONS’ home win over GATESHEAD THUNDER.

Straight from the kick off Richard Frankland broke through some weak defence to allow Hardcastle to sprint clear for the opening score, which Frankland converted.  Thunder produced some spirited play in response with the excellent Stephen Walton and James Richardson to the fore but it was Lions who increased their advantage on nine minutes when winger Adam Wilcox scored out wide, quick hands creating the overlap.

With half backs Adam Jones and Frankland organising well, hooker Louis Stead was able to release the ball for Danny Barnes to force his way over in the corner from a slick Zak Hardaker pass, Frankland adding the conversion for a 16-0 home advantage. Gateshead gave themselves some hope when substitute Anthony Veitch scored an unconverted try to reduce the arrears at half time.

In the second half Lions stepped up the pace and Tom Flounders increased the lead with a converted try in the 45th minute, finishing off a good move by Hardcastle and Hardaker to put his side a crucial three scores clear.

Walton’s non-stop efforts kept Thunder in the contest but Featherstone wrapped things up in the last eight minutes with tries for Hardaker, Hardcastle and Frankland which saw them move into third spot.

LEIGH MINERS RANGERS took a giant step towards finishing top of the league with a resounding home win over WEST HULL, in a repeat of last year’s Grand Final. The victory was their 12th in succession and gives them a six point lead at the summit.

The matches in the South fell foul of the weather, with the games at LONDON and CELTIC postponed because of frozen surfaces.

RESULTS
Gillette Friday Night Floodlit Footy – 9th January
Keighley Cougar Cubs 6 Saddleworth Rangers 36

Sunday 11th January
Celtic Crusaders v Ince Rose Bridge – Postponed, frozen pitch
Featherstone Lions 34 Gateshead Thunder 4
Leigh Miners Rangers 46 West Hull 6
North London Stags v Siddal – Postponed, frozen pitch
Waterhead 0 Leigh East 18
West Cumbria 19 East Leeds 12

FIXTURES
Sunday 18th January
Gateshead Thunder v Leigh East
North London Stags v  Celtic Crusaders Colts
West Cumbria  v Leigh Miners Rangers
West Hull v Ince Rose Bridge