Underbank Rangers remain unbeaten in national Conference III and moved into second spot after a 30-14 victory at yet-to-win Eastmoor Dragons.
The scores were level at 8-8 at the break as Underbank struggled to break down a resolute home defence, but a vastly improved second half performance saw Rangers take a grip on the game and secure the two competition points.
Underbank were missing the influential forwards Rob Joyce, Andy Boothroyd, Matt Adam and Craig Williams from the previous week’s side, but welcomed back Napolioni Vinaka to the bench, and gave season debuts to Haydon Sutcliffe and Michael Murphy returning to the club after six years playing in France and Australia.
In an often feisty encounter, in which both sides had a player sin-binned for minor indiscretions, Rangers dominated the early skirmishes and opened the scoring on just three minutes as half back James Usher kicked early in the tackle count against a flat defensive line and right wing Corey Noel won the race to touchdown.
Neil Barrett hit the post with the conversion attempt on a difficult day for goal kickers in the blustery conditions.
Rangers had several half-chances to double their lead, but poor finishing let down the visitors, and the Dragons levelled the scores on 18 minutes when left wing Jedynak finished off a crisp handling move.
A series of handling errors were stifling Underbank’s attacking prowess, but they regained the lead on 31 minutes when full back Michael Lang chimed into the line with a great angled run to latch onto a flat pass from Barrett to score.
However, Eastmoor replied in style following a loose pass from Vinaka that was pounced upon by the Dragons and their right centre Gant raced through a huge gap to equalise the scores once again just five minutes before the interval.
Rangers coach Richard Knight had a hard word with the players at half-time, and they visibly lifted their level of performance in the second period.
After 50 minutes Noel completed his brace with a carbon copy of his first half effort following another pin-point Usher kick to the corner.
Then Barrett kicked direct from a scrum in Underbank’s half of the field and centre Dan Pawson outpaced the covering defence to touchdown.
The game was sealed on the 70th minute mark as prop forward Dave Valentine raced onto a superb Sam Rochford pass to crash over, and then Dave Pawson and Lang combined down the left in a sweeping 70 metre raid for winger Courtney Allette to finish under the black dot.
Barrett added three conversions to complete Underbank’s scoring.
However, the scoring wasn’t finished as Eastmoor grabbed a consolation score in the final moments as Jedynak grabbed his second on the day.
Prop forward Jordan Williams took the Bengal Spice MOM award for a strong performance in the trenches, and he was supported well by Rochford, Lang and Valentine in that department, whilst half backs Usher and Barrett controlled the field position superbly with a great kicking game
Rangers: Michael Lang, Corey Noel, Alex Chatterton, Dan Pawson, Courtney Allette, Neil Barrett, James Usher, Jordan Williams, Sam Rochford, Dan Farrand, Dave Pawson, Dave Valentine, Michael Murphy. Subs: Luke Pogson, Haydon Sutcliffe, Napolioni Vinaka.
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