UNBEATEN Underbank Rangers remained top of the Co-operative Conference National after a bruising battle that brought an 18-12 home win over Kippax Knights.

The contest looked to be heading for a draw after Kippax pulled level on after 72 minutes with an Andy Speak penalty goal, but three minutes from time Rangers grabbed victory.

The try came when prop Chris Geoghegan made a break which was carried on by Jack Mitchell, and the ball was transferred to Lee St Hilaire to send his winger Courtney Allette racing over in the corner for the crucial score.

Rangers player-coach Richard Knight missed the conversion and the home side only led by four points, but he sealed the win with a penalty when the Kippax restart following Allette’s try sailed into touch on the full.

Underbank were only able to muster 16 players due to their long injury list, plus player unavailability, but they showed determination, character and stamina to defeat an improving Kippax outfit, who demonstrated why they had moved up to fourth in the table on the back of three consecutive wins.

Underbank opened the scoring at the end of the opening set of six.

From deep inside their own half the ball was swiftly moved to the left to give Adam Ryder the overlap.

The centre raced upfield, but ignored the support either side of him and was well tackled by full-back Danny Agar.

From the next play Knight flighted a kick to the corner for Allette to leap high above his opposite and plant the ball down in the corner.

Knight missed the goal attempt, but the home side were off to a flying start.

However, Kippax were not rocked by this early setback as their pack met fire with fire.

The visitors dominated for most of the first half, but Underbank’s superb defence with Knight, Geoghegan and Mitchell to the fore, repelled wave after wave of attacks.