Hull Dockers 10 v 6 Leigh Miners Rangers
Leigh Miners first runout of 2015 ended in defeat yesterday afternoon when they went down 10-6 in awful conditions away at Hull Dockers in the first round of the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup, Miners travelling back over the Pennines wondering how they wasn’t in the hat for the next round after they threw everything but the kitchen sink at the home side in the second half, only to be denied by an excellent Dockers defensive effort who’s lineup had a host of new signings in their ranks which included the experienced Lee Brown and Craig Cook. Miners themselves had debutants in the shape of England Youth internationals Harry Gagen and Connor Ratcliffe.
The game was always going to be tight in the poor conditions with both teams battling it out in what was a good old game of winter rugby league and with both sides defending strongly, getting over the whitewash was a difficult task with all three tries in the game being scored from kicks. The first points of the match went to the home side when half back Chris Stephenson flukily but at the same time smartly got his toe on the end of the ball before hitting the deck after losing control after receiving a pass, second rower Craig Todd reacting quickest to score out on the left to give the score 4-0. The score stayed like that right until half time when Miners full back Jonny Youds got on the end of a Scott O’Brien chip kick to score at the side of the posts, Youds converting his own try to give Miners a 6-4 lead going into the half time interval.
The home side retook the lead after about fifteen minutes in the second half when loose forward Craig Skelton got on the end of neat kick into the in goal to score, Stephenson converting to make it 10-6. That attack which led to the try was one of few Dockers had inside the Miners half during the second period, being put well and truly under the pump with Miners dominating field position and possession. Miners having what seemed like set after set on the Dockers line but could find no way through a tough Hull defence as the score finished 10-6 to put Dockers in the hat for round two feeling confident after such a good performance, while Miners despite playing well themselves and looking solid defensively will be looking to be a lot smarter with ball in hand in their decision making and execution by the time their next pre season hit out comes along in three weeks time against Saddleworth Rangers at Twist Lane.
MINERS TEAM = Jonny Youds, Harry Gagen, Ellis Grimes, Adam Thomason, Scott Travis, Jimmy Muir, Scott O’Brien, Martin Gray, Tom Farrimond, Darryl Kay, Tommy Parkinson, Danny Jackson, Connor Ratcliffe, Subs = Tony Doyle, Mike O’Boyle, Matt Astley, Chris Bowers
MINERS MOM = Chris Bowers
DOCKERS TEAM = Luke Hardcastle, Gary King, Richard Lamplough, Steve Milne, Robbie Smith, Chris Stephenson, Andy Kay, Chris Lyth, Craig Cook, Lee Brown, Danny Bell, Craig Todd, Craig Skelton, Subs = Scott Johnson, Richard Dougal, Nathan Powley, Danny Patrick
DOCKERS MOM = Craig Todd
