Brighouse Rangers 12 vs Siddal Academy 18 09.03.2024

The Rangers welcomed local side Siddal Academy down to Russell Way for the first pre-season match-up of 2024, as expected, Siddal provided a tough opponent the Rangers wanted for the first friendly. There was a large crowd down at the Sports Club, who hoped to watch some entertaining Rugby League.

The friendly aspect of this fixture was quickly forgotten as straight from the kick-off Matty Bailey timed his kick chase to perfection hitting Siddal’s receiver with a monster hit forcing a mistake and giving Brighouse the early position. Despite that, it was Siddal who opened the scoring. This lead didn’t last too long when the Rangers managed to hit back, through Bailey who pounced on a fine cross-field kick from Troy Ambler to even things up. The rest of the half was evenly matched, but against the run of play after a Brighouse mistake from a goal line drop out, Siddal extended their lead on the cusp of half time to go into the break at 12-6 up.

Early into the second half, Siddal extended their lead to 18-6, but the Rangers hadn’t given up. As expected in a local derby between these two proud clubs, things got a bit heated and the two teams muscled up in defence, but the referee maintained good control throughout. After building some pressure the Rangers had what they hoped would be the game-changing score when Lucas Birts was unlucky not to be awarded a try in the corner after a superb wide cut-out pass found him on the edge, in space, with a stylish dive and midair finish going unrewarded. Maintaning the pressure the Rangers kept knocking on the door when finally captain Karl Frankland broke the Siddal defence with a quick side step and 20-yard dart to the line, converting his try, to make it 12-18 for what proved to be the final evenful play of the game.

Brighouse Rangers 12
Siddal Acadamy 18

Youngster Charlie Walker was outstanding on his return to the field, Ambler and Ben Wickings showed some real class in the halves. Club captains Frankland and Bailey put in impressive games, Ronny Bailey fighting illness and Nicky Barraclough rolled back the years stepped up for the Rangers pack.