UNDERBANK Rangers put silverware in the cabinet as a 50-6 victory over Nottingham Outlaws secured the League Leaders Shield as they took top spot in the Co-operative Conference National with two games to go.
After their surprise defeat at Coventry, Rangers resumed normal service with a comfortable nine-try victory.
Rangers rested skipper Lee St Hilaire, wing Shaun Smith and back row forward Sam Housley, while centre Alex Chatterton pulled out of the game during the warm-up.
Into the side came Dom Horn, Stephen Berry and Paul Horsfall, while coach Richard Knight selected himself in the half backs.
The Outlaws enjoyed the majority of possession in the opening 25 minutes as the hosts conceded a string of early penalties and lost ball as they looked anxious to redeem themselves for the Coventry defeat.
However, it was Rangers who opened the scoring.
Man of the match Nick Briggs broke the line and raced upfield and the Australian then handed on to his compatriot Jack Mitchell who was tackled, but the Outlaws defence was all over the place and quick hands to the left allowed Rob Joyce to release centre Adam Ryder for a try.
Neil Barrett hit the left hand post with the conversion attempt, but Underbank looked to cut loose with Joyce missing a gilt-edged scoring opportunity as he knocked on with an open line in front of him.
Centre Will Midgley went desperately close to increasing the lead, but mistakes from the home side allowed the Outlaws a sustained period of pressure and experienced prop Dan Reeds burst through two would-be tacklers to score.
Full back Phil Weller added the goal as the Outlaws had their tails up and led by two after 18 minutes.
They continued to press for a second score as halves Oliver Crick and George Strachan probed for an opening, but a home defence led by Briggs, Joyce and Knight repelled all that Nottingham could throw at them.
Rangers then took a stranglehold on the game and three tries in seven minutes took the match away from the visitors.
Firstly, Barrett fired a long pass for Ryder to complete his brace and then from the restart Outlaws knocked on and full back Sam Hendrick raced over.
Finally, Rangers quickly moved the ball to the right, Midgley handed on to wing Courtney Allette who stepped his way over the line for a try. Barrett converted all three scores and the home side were 16 points to the good at the break.
Any chance of a Nottingham fightback were squashed four minutes after the restart as Allette powered over for his second try of the game.
The Outlaws were their own worst enemies in the second period as they continually spilled possession in the face of some ferocious defence as Underbank turned the screw on the visitors and scored at regular intervals.
Mitchell scooted over from the ruck after prop Sam Dalby had been held up over the line. Replacement Horsfall then bullied his way through the defence and handed on to Knight who did the rest despite the attention of the Outlaws’ Adam Millward. Fast hands allowed Ryder to release youngster Horn to register his maiden try in the senior side and the scoring was completed as Knight strode through a tired defence for his second score on the day. Barrett added four conversions to bring up the half century.
Underbank: Hendrick; Allette, Midgley, Ryder, Horn; Knight, Barrett, Williams, Mitchell, Dalby, Housley, Williams, St Hilaire. Replacements (all used): Carroll, Berry, Cummings, Horsfall.
Nottingham: Weller; Wilson, Shaw, Abbott, Ward; Crick, Strachan; Millward, Stott-Nelson, Reeds, Ward, Johnson, Wagstaff. Replacements (all used): Varley, McDonald, Ephraim, Moon.
Referee: Michael Hague
Results: Underbank Rangers 50 Nottingham Outlaws 6, Bramley Buffaloes 16 Valley Cougars 44, Featherstone Lions 24 Dewsbury Celtic 18, Kippax Knights 32 Hemel Stags 26, Warrington Wizards 38 Coventry Bears 14.
