Blackbrook are set for a blockbuster home showdown this Saturday as they welcome NCRL's Premier Division heavyweights Hunslet ARLFC to Boardmans Lane for a highly anticipated 1973 Cup Semi-Final clash (1:30pm kick-off).
Brook enter the knockout fixture on the back of a strong response against Keighley Albion, following a disappointing setback against Newsome Panthers, with head coach Paul Garland praising his side’s renewed intensity and focus.
"I thought we were poor the week before, but we smartened up at training on Tuesday and Thursday," Garland said. "You could tell prior to the warm-up that the lads were a little bit more on it, and it showed on the field."
Reflecting on the campaign as a whole, Garland acknowledged the emotional and physical toll of a marathon season that kicked off with training in late October. After an impressive start—highlighted by early-season victories over top opposition like Crosfields - Blackbrook faced a mid-season slump brought on by injuries, flight disruptions, and summer holiday absences.
"The first half of the season we were better than the tail end, but that’s due to injuries," Garland noted. "When you turn teams over early on, sometimes you think you have the right to just go and win again, and we let ourselves down a little bit.
"But we’ve smartened up toward the end of the campaign. We got key bodies back, and if you’re going to be playing well, it’s better to be playing well at the tail end of the season."
Navigating the cross-Pennine and Cumbrian opposition in recent weeks as part of the new Cross Conference Play-Off series - with trips to Mirfield and Dalton alongside home battles has added extra edge to Blackbrook's run.
"It gives that bit of an edge where you don't fully know what's coming," Garland explained. "We’ve worked on getting to the edges and playing to our strengths, particularly through our back row."
Crucially, Garland believes his squad has rediscovered its spark at just the right moment after a long, grueling year.
"It is a real slog, and sometimes lads lose momentum and enthusiasm. But we seem to have come out of that and got that enthusiasm back. Winning brings that back. Numbers at training have been great, the vibe is good, and you can get a lot more work done."
Saturday’s semi-final against Hunslet represents one of Blackbrook's biggest hurdles of the year, but Garland is clear that his side are ready to throw everything at the Premier Division giants.
"If you'd asked me at the beginning of the season where we'd like to get to, we’d be quite happy with where we're at," Garland added. "Hunslet are a top side, but we’ll definitely have a good crack at it."
With a place in the 1973 Cup Final on the line, home advantage at Boardmans Lane could prove crucial as Brook look to seal a spot in the showpiece event at the end of October.
By Ste Beech
Photo Credit: 13 Pro-Am RL
