Stanley Rangers 20 Rylands Sharks 26

DESPITE travelling with just 16 players, Rylands returned from Yorkshire victorious after seeing off Stanley Rangers.

A tremendous second-half comeback, led by braces for Troy Brophy and Luke Walker, allowed Matt Wilson’s depleted side to pick up two valuable points.

Arron Holliday opened the scoring in the corner, with Chris Forster landing the extras, but Rylands then lost half-back Theo Holt and prop Rob Campbell to injury.

Rangers took advantage of Rylands’ misfortune and ran in three tries before the break to open up a 14-6 lead.

The teams exchanged tries early in the second half, with Tyler Whittaker putting Brophy over for Sharks, before a mass brawl on the hour mark saw both sides reduced to 11 men with the score at 20-10 to the hosts.

Rylands adapted better to the situation and their quicker players were regularly able to outstrip the Rangers defence.

Brophy added his second try before Walker’s late double sealed a remarkable victory, with Forster adding two more conversions.

Wilson’s side climb back up to fifth in National Conference League Division Three after ending a run of three consecutive defeats.

Sharks face a long trip to the north east to take on Gateshead Storm on Saturday, kick off 2.30pm.

Rylands: Brown; Price, Brophy, Morgan, Holliday; Holt, Forster; Campbell, L Walker, McAlpine, Jones, Lloyd, Whittaker. Subs: McLarney, Higgins, B Walker.