MINERS Rangers racked up 40 points for the second home game running to increase the pressure in the NCL Premier Division title race.

A four-try burst after the break secured a 40-22 victory over Oulton Raiders, keeping Miners in fifth place, two points behind leaders Siddal with two games in hand.

Second-bottom Oulton drew first blood in what was a resolute performance but Miners swiftly replied as Mick O'Boyle drove over for a converted try.

With both sides battling hard and Oulton arguably looking most likely to score, the Twist Lane men were gifted a try on the half hour as Jimmy Muir snapped up a loose ball on half way and sprinting over the line.

Miners extended their lead on the stroke of half time when Scott O'Brien's kick was grounded by Danny Jackson to give them an 18-6 lead.

The visitors clawed a score back before the home side ran in four unanswered tries in the space of 10 minutes.

Joe Harrison scored a trademark hooker's try, diving in from acting half beside the posts.

Then came the game-breaker – Oulton had a try ruled out for offside and within minutes O'Brien sprinted through from 20 minutes to kill off the game.

Brad Hargreaves then scored out wide and, with Oulton temporarily depleted by Clayton Stott's sin-binning, Harrison's cute drop-off ball put Tommy Parkinson over.

Miners reached 40 points with 20 minutes remaining, but Oulton showed great resolve to stop them scoring further and ran in two tries of their own in the closing minutes for a late consolation.

The Alliance team lost in the semi-finals of the North West Trophy against local rivals Golborne in a 33-28 thriller.

Adam Ashurst, on his open age debut, scored two tries to win the man-of-the-match award.

The women’s team also went down 6-4 at Selby Warriors.

Miners have a tough game at home to Lock Lane on Saturday while the Under-16s travel to Hunslet’s John Charles Stadium to face West Hull in the National Cup final on Sunday.