HUDDERSFIELD Underbank maintained the pressure on the competition leaders Bramley Buffaloes with a comprehensive 42-14 eight-try demolition of Warrington Wizards.
The win sees Underbank retain third spot in the RL Conference National, behind second-placed Hemel Stags, but it was a landmark win for Rangers as it was the first time they had beaten Warrington in seven years of trying.
It was only in the second half that Underbank confirmed their superiority scoring three late tries to wrap up the game.
The Wizards weren’t helped by injuries to the experienced Wes Lawton, Darren Forshaw, and their best player on the day Shaun Gilmour.
The opening half was a tense as both teams made handling errors aplenty.
Rangers opened their account in the 13th minute when full-back Chris Thorley fought his way over the line after stand off Neil Barrett had pinched the ball in a one-on-one tackle.
Thorley added the goal, one of five successful conversions, but the Wizards got back into the game when Rangers were caught offside and scrum half Warren Ayres slotted over a penalty.
Underbank then hit a purple patch scoring three tries.
Centre Shaun Mitchell crossed from a superb pass from Barrett following a break from fellow centre Lee St Hilaire. Then man-of-the-match Gary Keegan crashed over following a great run from Tom Senior and the sequence was completed by hooker Joe Worthington, who reacted first to Barrett’s kick to ground the ball. Thorley converted the latter two scores.
The Wizards replied through winger Scott Lyon, who forced his way over in a four-man tackle to score in the corner – Ayres couldn’t add the goal.
Warrington’s hopes were raised early in the second period as Matt Wilson burst through the Underbank defence to crash over despite Thorley’s desperate last ditch tackle.
Rangers replacement James O’Brien then had a great chance to score, but spilled the ball with the line open.
Soon after Mitchell completed his brace of tries following a further Keegan break, but the Wizards bounced straight back with a try of their own through Adam Gorman, who raced over after taking a long pass from stand-off Alan Kilshaw.
Crucially Ayres couldn’t convert either of his side’s second half scores, but Warrington continued to press the home line and only desperate defence kept them out.
Rangers then made the visitors pay for their missed opportunities as they cruised in for three scores in the final quarter.
Firstly winger Will Midgeley scored in the corner from a flowing Rangers move after receiving a superb final pass from Thorley.
Keegan then evaded several defenders to crawl over for his second score, and the win was completed by a final try for Napoleoni Vinaka, who took a pass from Mitchell after he had intercepted.
Rangers coach Richard Knight praised his forwards for their superb efforts, in particular those of Keegan and props Dave Valentine and Matt Lodge.
Underbank Rangers: Chris Thorley; Will Midgeley, Lee St Hilaire, Shaun Mitchell, Nick Bellas; Neil Barrett, Adam Browne; Dave Valentine, Joe Worthington, Richard Lofthouse, Joe Flaherty, Gary Keegan, Tom Senior. Replacements (all used): Sam McCluskey, Napoleoni Vinaka, Matt Lodge, James O’Brien. Tries: Thorley (13), Mitchell (25, 54), Keegan (30, 73), Worthington (33), Midgeley (69), Vinaka (76). Goals: Thorley 5 from 8
Warrington Wizards: Liam Cagliarini; Scott Lyon, Tom Bradbury, Darren Forshaw, Ian Pirrie; Alan Kilshaw, Warren Ayres; Gareth Barron, Wes Lawton, Mike Leicester, Scott Cullen, Shaun Gilmour, Matt Wilson. Replacements (all used): Hayden James, Adam Gorman, Nick Woodward, Sean Grundy. Tries: Lyon (38), Wilson (44), Gorman (66). Goals: Ayres 1 from 4.
