Miners Rangers ended their interim season campaign on a real high as their best performance of the abbreviated competition saw them outclass champions Thatto Heath to record a first victory at Close Street. Last term the Crusaders were deservedly NCL Champions and just seven days earlier had added the European Challenge crown to their trophy cabinet but a young Miners side featuring four members from the under-18s as injury ruled out a host of regulars showed scant regard for reputation to run rings round their hosts.

On a fine autumn afternoon Miners had to show resolve in defence early on and took particular pleasure in nullifying the threat of their old boy Tom Eckersley, before drawing first blood when Luke Warburton’s kick to the right wing saw Ryan Monaghan pluck the ball from the air and score out wide, the outstanding Leon Brennan adding the conversion. Thatto responded and gained good field position before an excellent ball found David Pike marauding from deep, the centre hitting the pass at pace and crossing to reduce the gap to two points. However Miners finished the half strongly, Darryl Kay unplayable at times and the team following his lead, some good pressure on the line ending with Dave Rowlands taking the pass and forcing his way over. Right on half time Miners had a comfortable cushion with a sensational try, Gary Gittens releasing young winger Scott Travis on a break from midway inside his own half, the youngster showing great awareness to draw his man and turn play inside for Monaghan, with Sean Pendlebury and Gittens again supporting before Brennan finished off for a tremendous score and 18-4 at the interval.

If the first half had been enjoyable the second half was simply spectacular as Miners utterly dominated their hosts. Ten minutes in and Brennan had his second, using the strong-running Tom Farrimond as a decoy before arcing his way in for the try. Then straight from the restart Kay burst down the left channel before releasing the supporting Pendlebury to finish off. Thatto weren’t giving up and with Kieron Maddocks and Shaun Quinn doing their best to rally the troops Eckersley went over for the try he might have been dreaming of to gain some consolation, but Miners responded again as Rowlands showed quick feet to scamper clear of the defence from thirty metres. Again Thatto replied, youngster Jack Jones with an impressive debut for the hosts and his clever chip over the line saw him regather and score, but Miners had the last word as Quinn threw an intercept pass on halfway to allow Martin Gray in for the final score

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