Rangers edge past Cods

RUGBY UNION: Toowoomba Rangers added to their solid Wagners Risdon Cup season start with a hard-fought win over Condamine at Gold Park on Saturday.

Spearheaded by a three-try effort from replacement fiveeighth Brandon Murray, Rangers pulled clear late to down the Cods 36-22.

The round-four win was Rangers third of the season and secured their top-three ladder position.

Condamine has now split its opening four matches with two wins and two defeats.

The match couldn’t have started any worse for Condamine after Rangers posted a converted try in the second minute of play through their hooker Rongo Aramoana.

But the Cods pulled themselves back into the game as the sides swapped two tries apiece in the opening 40 minutes before Rangers took a 1410 lead into the half-time break.

The second half was highlighted by Murray’s three-try splurge including an individual effort in the 71st minute when he regathered his own kick ahead to score under the post to put Rangers up 29-15.

Rangers were entitled to feel comfortably placed up 14 points with full time approaching but the Cods weren’t quite done with flanker Bryce Moore crossing for a converted try to pull the score back to 29-22 in

the 75th minute.

The Cods’ hopes of snatching a late draw didn’t last long however with Murray hitting back immediately for Rangers with try number three to wrap up a victory Condamine made them work so hard for.

Rangers’ coach Tom Crockett was impressed with his team’s fighting qualities.

“We had a whole bunch of new guys out there today and we weren’t helped losing two of our team leaders in Stu Bougoure and Fraser Donaldson,” Crockett said.

“But we dug deep and that was a gusty win.”

Condamine coach Ben Taylor said the Cods helped bring themselves undone through poor ball control.

“It’s really frustrating,” Taylor said of his team’s four-try effort.

“We turned over too much possession. We are not treasuring the ball enough.”