A disappointing middle period saw Stanley concede back to back defeats for the first time this season.

The Rangers started slowly allowing their much bigger opponents to gain early momentum down the famous Stanley slope. The large visiting pack gained the upper hand in the middle and found themselves 12-0 up within 15 minutes. Issuing the rallying cry, the home side began turning tide, Chris Grice and Ali Mcmaster began making serious inroads up the slope creating the field position for halfbacks Ackroyd and Danny Grice to unleash strong running full back Jamie Bell who powered over for the Rangers opening score. Grice converted 12-6.

Enthused by their success, the home team maintained their dominance and continued playing in the style accustomed to their coach’s philosophy. Moving the ball with skill and accuracy, a nice play from Cattley and Fox created the space for Man of the Match Jack Ledger to charge 40 yards down field. A quick play of the ball gave Fox the chance to jump out of acting half back and make another half break. Finding themselves within striking distance of the line industrious backrower Liam Crawley came on to a short ball off the ruck like a freight train taking 3 would be Blackbrook defenders over the line with him. An unsuccessful conversion made it 12-10.

With the home side growing in confidence an unfortunate serious injury to Stanley stalwart Richard Cattley halted the game for a long period of time. The experienced backrower twisted in a tackle suffering an extremely serious leg break, all within the Rangers organisation are wishing him a safe and speedy recovery. With 8 minutes of the first half remaining when the game restarted, the home team seemed flustered and disorganised. Going away from the pattern of play which had dragged them back into the match, they produced an error strewn and poorly co-ordinated end to the half conceding 2 further tries in the process. Halftime score 24-10.

The second half began in a similar fashion to how the first period ended, the high error count for the Rangers was become a serious problem. Blackbrook were gifted attacking field position time and time again, despite noble defensive efforts from Ledger, Rob Fox and Liam Crawley the sheer weight of possession told for the visitors crossing twice in quick succession.

Finding themselves 34-10 Stanley mounted a spirited comeback Bell, Duce, Cooper carried strongly out of the back field as well as number of threatening drives by Jack Ledger, who defying his tender years, took the battle to heart of the Blackbrook defence. From a tap penalty inside the Stanley half Ledger carried to the middle of the field and some incisive footwork took him through the line and 30 yards down field. Swift hands to the left edge allowed Neal Ackroyd to craft a well weighted pop pass to put returning centre Dave Findley in for a well taken score. Conversion unsuccessful 34-14. Using this try as a springboard Stanley worked down field once again. Brown, Nunns and Rob Fox helped give the impetus needed for the Grice brothers to combine and send Liam Crawley screaming through a hole to score out wide. Unsuccessful conversion 34-18

With renewed vigour the Stanley men continued the comeback, Nunns batting off 3 would be defenders inside his own 20 metre line surged up field taking Stanley to the half way line. Further charges over the gain line from Hartley, Brown and Fox gave veteran prop forward Gareth Rawlinson front foot ball to bust the static Blackbrook line hold off a would be defender and superbly offload to the supporting Rob Fox who crossed for his second try of the season. Converted successfully by Grice the scores were 34-24 and all to play for.

A familiar pattern unfortunately emerged to halt the Stanley comeback. Numerous loose carries and a cornucopia of penalties conceded gifted the visitors the game. Time after time Stanley allowed Blackbrook cheap easy yardage with ill-discipline and basic errors. The visitors finished the game with two further tries to complete a much needed away win. Final score 24-44.

There will definitely be a feeling of ‘what might have been’ for Stanley who were in a strong position towards the back end of the first half. A current inability to put in a full 80 minute performance is hampering the development of this new group of players. With their next league fixture away at Salford in two weeks’ time Stanley have plenty of time work together as a group and put in a much improved performance.