Saddleworth Rangers ARLFC

Rangers currently sit bottom of the National Conference League Premier Division but held the Miners to a 30-30 tie at Shaw Hall Bank Road on the last weekend of May, with the visitors levelling the score in the dying minutes of injury time.

“Really we should have had the two points,” Flanagan said. “We were the better team throughout but they played like a top-four side at the end. We were so close to a remarkable win but they scored with the last play of the game.

“We’re disappointed but we would have taken the draw at the start of the afternoon so we’re not too disheartened.”

Rangers has also recently picked up points against Oulton Raiders and Wath Brow Hornets to close the gap at the bottom of the league but suffered losses against Wigan St Patrick, Thatto Heath and Myton Warriors.

Flanagan added that an 18-36 defeat in the Conference Challenge Cup to Bradford Dudley Hill earlier this month has not disappointed the squad too much and they will now concentrate on continuing their good league form in their next matches against West Hull, East Hull, Ince Rose Bridge and Hull Dockers.

“We’re up against some good teams who play good rugby but we’ll take those opportunities and continue what we’ve just started,” he said “We see ourselves moving forward and in two months’ time we’d like to be out of the relegation zone and in a mid-table position.

“There’s a growing belief in the squad that we can make a different now. We’re overcoming injuries and getting one or two players back and our system is getting fitter so we’re looking forward to the middle and remainder of the season.

“We rely on our experienced players a lot in home game but we can’t play them every week and every young player has also stepped up to the mark so that’s a credit to the whole squad. Everyone’s pulling together and that’s great.

“With the summer weather now and changing grounds and our experienced players, if we can just get ourselves really up for the games, we can do well.”

:: Rangers face West Hull away on Saturday, June 9. To find out more about the club, visit their Facebook page.