UNDERBANK Rangers retained top spot in the National Conference League Division III as they ran riot to rout struggling Bristol Sonics 62-0.
Bank’s attacking qualities were rewarded as tries from Courtney Allette, Will Midgley, Kris Harrop, Jacob Senior, Richard Knight, Jayden Covell-Wood, Lee St Hilaire along with a 22 point haul from Neil Barrett made for a crushing victory.
The reigning champions took to the task of topping last week’s performance in their win over St Albans by producing another perfect defensive display which saw the home side record their second clean sheet in as many games.
Rangers player-coach Knight was keen to express his delight and said: “We played really well and most importantly our defensive display was spot on.
“We were helped by completing our sets of six in the first half and our contact and ground work was impressive, so that’s a pleasing point and now we have gone two weeks on the bounce and kept both teams out.”
Underbank may have not conceded a single point in 160 minutes of rugby, but Knight is under no illusions that the task of gaining a third successive victory will not be an easy task ahead of next week’s ‘Grand Final replay’ against Kippax.
“It may be a bit much asking for a clean sheet every game especially coming up to Kippax next week,” he said.
“We are expecting a tough match there as they are the beaten Grand Finalists and we will have to be on top form and work really hard to come away with the three points.”
Rangers showed intent in the opening quarter as Sonics failed to gain any possession in the Rangers half.
Relentless attacks saw the home side take a 26-point lead at the interval before they more than doubled the score before the final whistle.
The first strike came after four minutes when a swift move involving Steve Berry, Knight and Midgley saw the ball worked to unmarked winger Allette who went over.
Bristol failed to contain half back Barrett, who’s creative play produced a kick which found Midgley who finished clinically in the corner.
Harrop was next to go over, before a smart interception from Alex Chatterton took Rangers in touching distance of the opposition’s try line and Senior touched down his first.
A substantial gap was opened up before the break as a neat one-two between Nick Briggs and Knight saw the coach round Sonics’ full back and dive under the sticks.
The home side continued in similar fashion up to the hour as a combination of neat ball work and a reluctance to go down saw Covell-Wood and Knight bustle over within five minutes of each other.
Rangers’ concentration was pivotal in not allowing Bristol any score as a ten minute period saw the visitors get a foothold on the game.
Yet any thoughts of a late comeback were soon laid to rest as breaking runs from Harrop and Senior sent Covell-Wood in for his second and Barrett over to make it 50-0.
Senior’s speed proved too much for the Bristol defence as he went over and it was captain St Hilaire who capped the visitor’s miserable afternoon as he profited from Barrett’s superb run through the middle and touched down the 11th try of the day.
