Stanley Rangers u14's opened the preseason hosting Heworth in a friendly.
Both teams started the game well and Stanley didn't let the higher division team settle and forwards Lewis Kelly, Ben Bradbury, Harrison Talbot and Owen Hopkinson playing well, but a knock on and break by Heworth gave the visitors the lead with a try under the sticks, 0-6.
Stanley soon hit back again the forwards did the hard work and quick hands from halfbacks Earnshaw and Clay Harnetty sent Hopkinson in powering over wide out, new goal kicker Harrison Talbot kicking the conversion from the touchline, Stanley then began to control the game and fullback Joel Kay was growing in confidence as the game went on making big metres with every carry.
The inclusion late in the half of debutant Blake Medlock showed Stanley's real dominance in the forwards, working there way under the sticks and dragging the defence wide by setting up a set move impressive hooker Alfie Wilkinson borrowed over catching the defence napping converted by Talbot.
Stanley then let the away side back in the game with a late converted try 12-12 at the break, the visitors started the second half the best and used the Stanley hill and a strong wind to there advantage scoring 2 quick unconverted tries 12-20.
The new look Rangers side didn't give in and again started to dominate again working into great a position and leaving enough room for Wilkinson to grab his second again converted by Talbot 18-20, Stanley then gave away a penalty and quick thinking from Heworth to take the quick tap caught Stanley napping and gave Heworth a converted try under the sticks, 18-26.
And some could have forgive the Stanley lads for giving up but that is no longer in there DNA, and the Rangers rallied working there way up the field and some great quick hands and a pass through his legs from dummy half by Wilkinson gave Hopkinson just enough space to score again Talbot missing the conversion, 22-26.
With only 2 minutes on the clock Stanley went the full length of the pitch thanks to Kelly, Medlock and Joel Kay, some great hands and an offload by Hopkinson almost got another debutant Sid Chadwick over in the corner just been held up, as the final whistle blew Rangers had to reflect on what could have been, man of the match could have gone to 3 players Kay, Hopkinson but went to hooker Alfie Wilkinson for his best effort in a Stanley Rangers shirt.
Stanley would like to welcome new players Blake Medlock, Sid Chadwick and Dan Gilfeather recent signing from the Oulton Raiders, Stanley are still on the look out for a couple more players for the upcoming season, Coaches Paul Dean and John Harnetty are bullish about a really successful season for the Rangers.
