Underbank Rangers who had led 28-6 at the break needed a last minute penalty kick from player-coach Richard Knight to seal a thrilling 36-28 victory over Coventry Bears to notch their fourth consecutive win and remain in third spot in the NCL Division 3 table three points ahead of their nearest challengers Crosfields. Coventry were 34-10 adrift after Adam Ryder had scored his second try on 55 minutes and the Bears were staring down the gun of a heavy defeat. However, they rallied in the last quarter to close the lead to just six points with four minutes remainng, but Knight coolly slotted over the penalty kick from 40 metres after Coventry were penalised for obstruction on their last possession of the game.

Rangers had full backTom Eidson and prop forward Dan Farrand still out injured plus Haydon Sutcliffe, Corey Noel, Courtney Allette, Jason Southwell and Jordan Williams all unavailable. However, Neil Barrett, Joe Parkinson, Matt Adam all returned to the line-up, Luke Nelmes made his debut, while Lee St Hilaire, Dave Pawson, Michael Lang and Rob Joyce still remain on the long-term injury list.

Rangers were quick out of the traps as usual and took a commanding twelve point lead within the opening fourteen minutes of the game. The early blitz was started after just four minutes when right winger latched onto a James Usher crossfield kick, evaded his opposite number and raced over, and he was quickly followed by centre Adam Ryder who raced onto a short ball from Aussie back rower Nick Briggs and showed great speed to power over from thirty metres. Neil Barrett added the two conversions of a total of four successful kicks on the day before he was withdrawn before the break, and his controlling presence was missed in the second half as the Bears roared backed into contention. Rangers were in total command with the first quarter of the game still in progress, but then went away from the game plan as Usher threw a long speculative pass and Coventry centre Rich Synnott intercepted to outpace the cover defence on a 70 metre sprint to the line. Scrum half Duncan Barrett added the conversion and Coventry trailed 6-12 after twenty minutes gone on the clock. However, normal service was resumed as Chatterton grabbed his second try courtesy of a great Knight bomb that the Bears full back couldn’t handle. Then Knight provided a peach of a pass for centre Michael Murphy to hit a great line and race through for scintillating try and Knight kicked 50 metres on the first tackle straight from a scrum for left wing Dan Pawson to cross the stripe. Neil Barrett converted the first two and Rangers were crusing at 28-6 at the break.

Coventry grabbed the first score of a pulsating second half as back rower brushed through some weak defence to race over from 30 metres, but Underbank hit back almost immediately with Ryder speeding 60 metres after being released on the touchline by Luke Pogson. Knight converted and Rangers led 34-10 on 55 minutes and the game seemingly won. The home side then had a great chance to put the game to bed when Ryder again burst through, but instead of backing himself he threw a wild loose pass to the waiting Murphy which wasn’t taken with the try line open. The Bears immediately took advantage of the slip when left wing Chris Dixon was the beneficiary of quick hands to score after receiving a fine long pass from full back Tawanda Chipadza. Chipadza then took advantage of a spilled bomb to score, and on 76 minutes Synnott completed his brace when he caught a chip kick through to scythe over from 20 metres. Duncan Barrett converted all three tries and suddenly Coventry sniffed the possibility of victory. Knight kicked the restart out on the full and Coventry had possession again. However, Synnott was forced into touch on the Bears next foray into the Underbank 20 metre zone. Then the Bears had one final chance when Chipadza ran back a clearing Knight kick, but Chipadza illegally ran behind one of his colleagues and a penalty was awarded to Rangers, and Knighty duly converted just ahead of the final whistle.

Prop foward Dave Valentine was selected as the Rangers’ Bengal Spice Man of the Match for an unstinting defensive performance, but he was pushed hard for the award by Adam Ryder and Nick Briggs in his final game for Underbank.

Rangers team: Luke Pogson, Alex Chatterton, Michael Murphy, Adam Ryder, Dan Pawson, Neil Barrett, James Usher, Dave Valentine, Stephen Berry, Luke Karolczuk, Sam Rochford, Nick Briggs, Matt Adam. Subs: Joe Parkinson, Sam Dalby, Richard Knight, Luke Nelmes