Stanley got their league season off the mark with a home draw with Cumbria side Askam. A big crowd was in attendance for Rangers’ first home game of the season and they were treated to a thriller with the result in doubt up until the final minutes of the game.

Defences were to the fore in the opening stages with each side asking questions of the opposition and battling for field position. It was, however, Rangers who were breached first after Stanley had successfully defended a number of repeat sets on their own line. Askam were able to convert making the score 6-0 in favour of the visitors. Stanley hit back almost immediately after regaining possession. Stand-off Danny Grice put up a huge up and under which troubled the Cumbrian full back. The chasing Joel Marsh plucked the ball from the air before the Askam number 1 could get a hand on the ball and he showed a clean pair of heels in a 40m dash to the line. Grice converted to level the game.

Once again, Stanley were their own worst enemy giving away the ball cheaply and conceding penalties which handed field position to the visitors. The resulting pressure told and Askam crossed twice more, adding both conversions, to make it 18-6. Stanley weren’t finished yet though as after some good pressure in the opposition red zone, with Stanley forwards Richard Cattley, Chris Grice and replacement John Nunns laying a solid platform, an opportunist kick from prop Liam Crawley was sent to the left hand corner. It was Marsh once again who profited from a keen chase as he latched on to the kick and touched down for a 4-pointer. Grice again added the extras. Marsh was then denied a first half hat trick as another kick through from Crawley was chased down by the centre and placed over the white wash only to be ruled off side.

The start of the second period began as the last had ended with both teams probing and trading blows, striving for field position. Jack Ledger was everywhere in defence for the home side and debutant Jordan Rice was actively involved in a lot of what Stanley were producing. Marsh, not to be denied his 3rd, showed his flair with a chip chase over the defence, beating the full back to the line. Grice converting to tie the game at 18-18.

It was a case of Déjà vu though as costly errors once again lead to an Askam try with the scores then 24-18 with the extras converted. In the final 20 it was all Stanley. Askam were desperately trying to use the famous Stanley slope as an advantage but full back Shaun Abson, along with wingers Danny Duce and Billy Cooper, were able to cancel out the threat of a 40-20 and return the ball with interest, putting Rangers on the front foot. Rangers were building pressure with set pieces, troubling the visitors defence, and the pressure eventually told when Rangers scored from a fourth successive kick – this time with Cooper being the beneficiary in the left hand corner. Grice was unable to add the extras making the game 22-24 going into the dying stages.

The final period of the match saw Stanley force two goal line drop outs. The second of which was, controversially, adjudged to go out on the full resulting in a penalty under the visitor’s goal posts. Grice stepped up to slot over the 2-pointer to level the scores once again with mere minutes left on the clock. The home side withstood a final scare as Askam regained the ball from the kick off and were on the attack with a “wide to west” style final flurry. Stanley managed to diffuse the situation and the final hooter sounded with the game all square.

Stand-off Danny Grice was given the NCL Man of the Match award.