Bradford Dudley Hill (Home)
Leigh Miners will be looking to make home advantage count on Saturday as they aim to bounce back after two disappointing results on the road when they take on Bradford Dudley Hill in Round 7 of the Kingstone Press Cider National Conference League Division One season, Kick off 2-30pm at Twist Lane.
Miners go into Saturdays game on the back of a another very frustrating defeat at Thornhill last weekend. After being in control of the game for large parts and leading 30-16 going into the final ten minutes, Miners switched off and conceded 3 tries, with the last of them tries being the final play of the game which saw Thornhill win the game 34-30.
The changing rooms after the game was full of dejection and disappointment with all the lads gutted they had thrown the game away, that loss leaving Miners in seventh position in Division One with only two wins from their opening five matches.
Training this week as been tough but good with all the players looking at making amends for the last two weeks in what will no doubt be a tough encounter on Saturday against Dudley Hill, the team know that they need to start putting games to bed when in control like they have been and get out of the bad habit of switching off and helping the opposition back into the contest.
Coach Dave Rowlands makes two changes from the side that was beaten at Thornhill last week, with Frankie Halton and Deakon Monks coming into the side for Todd Fenlon and Martin Gray.
On this weekends game against Bradford Dudley Hill, coach Dave Rowlands said “We have spoken to the boys who are hurting after the last two games”.
“We need to be on our game for the full eighty minutes, as teams are raising there game against us and anything below our best won’t be good enough if we want to get the two points.”
Dudley Hill where promoted via the playoffs in Division Two last year and although they have come close on a few occasions they have yet to register a league win from their five outings in 2018. The Bradford outfit which has former Super League player Dave Halley in their ranks will no doubt be looking to kick start their season this weekend against what so far as been a hit and miss Miners side.
Leigh Miners second team are away at Haresfinch on Saturday in the league, kick off 2-30pm. Last weekend Lee Pugsley’s side suffered a heavy 48-18 defeat away at Hindpool Tigers and they will no doubt be looking to bounce back with a win in St Helens this weekend.
The u18s make the trip to Oldham on Sunday to take on Waterhead in the league, kick off 11-45am. The game will no doubt be the toughest the lads have played this year, with Allan Coleman’s young guns knowing that they will have to be on the metal if they want to keep their unbeaten start to 2018 intact.
Leigh Miners Ladies are at home against Hull FC Ladies on Sunday in Round 3 of the Women’s Championship, Kick off 2pm at Twist Lane. Last weekend the Ladies went down to a narrow 26-24 defeat away at Oulton Raidettes
The u14s girls team are playing away at West Leeds Eagles on Saturday, Kick off 12-30pm.
The u12s girls play tonight (Friday) against Orrell St James, kick off 6-30pm.
