Underbank Rangers maintained their improving form in the National Conference’s first division with a 26-10 win over Milford Marlins.

Rangers gained their fifth consecutive win and sixth of their past seven games of the 2016 NCL Division One campaign, and scored a psychological pount against the Leeds side who they face next weekend in the second round of the Conference Challenge Trophy.

Underbank produced a controlled display in the face of an ill-disciplined Marlins outfit that conceded 11 penalties in the second half of an often niggly affair.

The conditions were warm and humid, and both sides were hot under the collar in an often feisty affair with the visitors losing two players to the sin-bin shortly after drawing level on the scoreboard early in the second period.

However, with the extra numbers on the field and Milford’s inability to control their fraying tempers, Rangers camped themselves in their opponents half of the field for long periods and eventually the wealth of possession told as Underbank scored three second half tries to seal the game.

With numerous players unavailable Nick Briggs, who debuted for the club in 2011 and last appeared in the maroon and amber in 2014, made a rare appearance in Rangers’ colours and he was joined on the bench by the fit-again Aisea Taholo, while back rower Michael Murphy also returned from injury to the starting line-up.

After 20 minutes Rangers finally got the scoreboard ticking as hooker Stephen Berry hit Briggs with a perfect pass and the Aussie back rower crashed over.

Half back Luke Pogson couldn’t add the extras, but he did atone for the miss on 33 minutes kicking the goal after right winger Adam Ryder grabbed his first try.

Ryder put in a big hit and dislodged the ball from a Marlins’ player’s grasp, and then was first to react to the situation to touch down as the ball spun into the visitor’s in-goal area and Rangers deservedly led 10-0 at the break.

Both teams improved in the second half but Underbank’s Pogson committed two errors in three minutes to gift two tries to the visitors.

Firstly, with Underbank on the attack in good ball position, Pogson’s pass was intercepted as he moved the ball wide left, and recipient Macauley Barron raced 60 metres for an unconverted score.

On the next set Milford kept the ball alive on the last tackle and Pogson knocked down an intended pass into the path of James Barker who had the simple job of picking up and scoring under the posts.

Full-back Ryan Oxtoby added the extras and the game was level at 10-10.

The Marlins then lost the momentum as half back Josh Parle was sin-binned for dissent and that turned the tide in Underbank’s favour.

A superb long pass from Chris Druett found Briggs and he powered over from 10 metres on 53 minutes to complete his brace.

Pogson added a great touchline conversion and Rangers led again but the edginess of the contest was demonstrated after 59 minutes as Pogson attempted to kick a penalty goal from 50 metres to put some daylight between the sides, but missed.

Milford were reduced to 12 men once more as Barker was dispatched to the sin-bin for a professional foul, and Rangers made them pay as Druett and Chatterton combined to send Ryder in at the right hand corner for his second try on 67 minutes.

Milford continued to try the patience of the match officials and were put on a team warning on 70 minutes, and shortly afterwards the victory was completed on 72 minutes as Mitch Turner sneaked over from acting half back for a tremendous individual score and Pogson converted.

Craig Williams picked up the Bengal Spice man-of-the-match for Underbank for his carries, while ‘one game’ Briggs was selected as the Rose and Crown Players’ Player.

Underbank Rangers: Kris Harrop; Adam Ryder, Alex Chatterton, Nathan Chappell, Courtney Allette; Chris Druett, Luke Pogson; Dave Valentine, Stephen Berry, Dan Farrand, Michael Murphy, Mitch Turner, Craig Williams. Interchange; Tom England, Aisea Taholo, Nick Briggs, Jonlee Sanderson.