Narangba Rangers kept their finals hopes alive at the Bora Ring, with a thrilling 26-22 win over Banyo Devils on Saturday in the Rugby League Brisbane Men's Open 3 Northside competition.
The Rangers' try on the siren gave them the much needed two points, upsetting a strong Devils outfit on Old Boys Day.
Narangba came to play and they set the wheels in motion in the third minute when halfback Gary Lewis broke free and touched down in the corner.
In a fairly brutal opening 10 minutes, both packs tried to overcome each other with some monster hits in defence.
But as the big boppers were introducing themselves to each other up the middle, it was the Rangers speedsters who were proving a handful for the Devils out wide.
Jake Rosenlund’s superb try in the ninth minute was a pearler.
The zippy winger outpaced his opposite number to tiptoe his way down the sideline, planting the ball down in the corner.
With a shellshocked Devils outfit unable to get out of second gear, the Rangers capitalised again out wide with exciting fullback Lachlan Bramley crashing his way over in the corner for a well-deserved try.
Banyo finally awoke from their slumber and it would take Devils playmaker John Collins to stop the rot, executing a superb pass for replacement Nicholas Lamb, who waltzed over for the home side's first try.
The Devils started to improve as the game ebbed and flowed and it would take some quick thinking by halfback Souekji Wanma, who crossed beside the sticks after scooping up a Rangers loose ball to score, to get them within striking distance and make it 16-12 at the break.
With the old boys stirring on the can bar deck, it didn’t take long for the Devils to carry on where they left off in the first half.
Collins again stepped his way to the line, putting Banyo in the lead for the first time after converting his own try.
Both forward packs were still dishing out some punishing defence with Devils' Kade Deeks and Che Wanma the pick of the home side, whilst the Rangers were best served by powerful lock Lachlan Meares and Liam Laguna.
Banyo bagged another try in the 45th minute when winger Matt Strike raced away to keep the Devils' noses in front, gliding past the Rangers defence to score out wide.
But a glut of drop ball by the home side invited the Rangers back into the game and they were made to pay dearly for their mistakes when centre Nathan Dawes barged his way over to peg the score back to 22-20 to the Devils.
In what was a heart stopping last 60 seconds of play, a fumble from the Devils on their own line saw Rangers winger Liam Major pounce on the loose ball to score and give Narangba a hard fought 26-22 victory.
Banyo, now in third, will in next week's final round be looking to regain some confidence and earn a home semi-final against Albany Creek Crushers, who they will meet the following week, while Narangba will be feeling confident of progressing, which they will do if they beat eighth-placed Pine Central Holy Spirit at home.
