UNDERBANK Rangers moved back into third place in Co-operative Conference National with a thrilling 40-38 triumph at Liverpool Buccaneers in a pulsating match where the lead changed hands eight times.

Although the match had the teams’ defensive coaches tearing their hair out, the game was an enthralling spectacle that was in the balance right until the final whistle.

Liverpool started the stronger and opened the scoring through Steve Ormesher, but straight from the restart Underbank struck back as Liverpool spilled the kick-off and prop Matt Lodge found the space to charge under the posts for a routine Chris Thorley conversion to follow.

A Jamie Hammond penalty levelled proceedings before home side debutant Simon Holden scored the first of his four tries.

At 10-6, the tone was set for an arm-wrestle of a game, but four Underbank tries in an incredible eight-minute spell either side of the interval turned the game on its head.

First to strike was Shaun Mitchell, who finished off quick hands for the try, and then a downfield kick to the right corner was lost by the defence and the fast-chasing Thorley nipped in to gather the ball and stroll under the posts.

On the stroke of half-time, Rangers were in again with Richard Lofthouse powering over and three minutes after the restart Underbank further underlined their dominance as Mitchell sped onto a superb Neil Barrett pass before handing on to the supporting James O’Brien who released Richard Aka to show his pace and win the race to the corner to put his side 28-10 ahead.

But back swung the pendulum as the Buccaneers somehow hauled themselves off the canvass to post four unanswered scores themselves to regain the lead as Holden crossed three times and Matt Garner also scored to put the hosts 32-28 ahead.

With both sides having had spells in the ascendancy, the final quarter was nip-and-tuck, Underbank nosing ahead with 10 minutes remaining as Thorley danced through down the right and scored under the posts.

But when Dave Valentine was sin-binned for a professional foul the visitors were forced to play out the remainder of game with 12 men and Liverpool made the advantage tell when Mark Webster forced his way over the line through a mass of bodies, with Hammond’s conversion seemingly giving his side a priceless victory.

Yet there was still time for Underbank to have the final word through their all-action captain Darren Hawkyard, who twisted his way through several would-be tacklers for a great individual try. Thorley added the goal to wrap up the three points for the jubilant Rangers.