Leigh Miners Rangers kept tabs on a National Conference
Premier title after defeating Hunslet Warriors 28 – 10 at The Oval.
The Rangers were 10 – 6 down at the break, but scored three
unanswered tries in the remaining 15 minutes to pick up the two points.
The Warriors, who were buoyed after a shock win against
Castleford Lock Lane last week, had their tails up within the first couple of
minutes, and pinched the ball one-on-one. The Leigh side were then penalised
for stripping the ball out, and Gary McClelland made it two nil.
Rangers hit back ten minutes later with a try that came from
nothing. Scott O’Brien turned left and right to find an option, and eventually
he found his full-back, Johnathan Youds who dived over. Youds converted his own
try.
Hunslet locked the game up when Josh Murphy’s bullet pass
from dummy half sent Dave Norton flying over.
Back-to-back penalties conceded by the visitors gave the
Warriors a piggyback into deep Leigh territory. Jim Baker stabbed a clever kick
in behind the defence on the short right side, and Lee West palmed the ball
down.
10 – 6 up going into the final couple of minutes of the
first half, Hunslet made Leigh work overtime in defence. Daryl Gaunt kicked
downfield and Youds was pinned into his own in-goal area. The following set
resulted in no further points for the hosts.
Despite the dry weather conditions, both sides were losing
the ball on a few occasions. A Hunslet knock on gave Leigh Miners an attacking
set, and Man of the Match Tommy Parkinson surged his way over. Youd’s extras
made it 12 – 10.
With 15 to go until full-time, Leigh were awarded a penalty
for a high tackle, which gave them the position to post more points. Jimmy Muir
fired a pass to Sean MacDonald who broke through the Warriors defensive line to
score.
MacDonald made it two tries for the afternoon and made sure
of the win for the away side six minutes from time. A break from the Rangers
set up the position for MacDonald to use his strength to get the ball down.
And Three minutes before the full-time whistle, Shaun
Dowie’s break was backed up by Matthew Meaden for a converted try under the
posts.
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