Hull Dockers 25 v 18 Leigh Miners Rangers
Leigh Miners rotten run at The Willows in the summer era continued on Saturday afternoon when they went down 25-18 against 12 man Hull Dockers on a wet and slippery day on Humberside, Miners being poor again on the road in the league and could probably still be playing now and not be winning, whilst Dockers fully deserved their win, especially after being reduced to twelve men in the first half, digging deep to move to the top of the table with Miners dropping down to seventh after this defeat.
The home side opened the scoring after about a minute when Chris Stephenson slotted over a penalty goal to make it 2-0. Dockers continued to have the better of the opening exchanges but where unable to turn their pressure into points. After making a slow start, Miners started to get going and where making some good yards up the middle, the cause being further boosted for the visitors when Dockers loose forward Craig Render was sent off for punching following a minor scuffle. Connor Partington put Miners in front soon after the sending off when he powered his way over on the right, that’s as good as it got for Miners in the first half with them being starved of possession in the final ten minutes, on the rare occasion they did have the ball, it was turned over way to cheaply, much to the delight of Dockers who had looked deflated after going a man down. The green and whites scoring three tries before the break with tries from Chris Stephenson, Jonny Long and Rich Lamplough to put them in command leading 16-4 at the break.
Things got worse at the start of the second half for Miners when they conceded a fourth try, Danny Ulyatt going over with Stephenson converting to make it 22-6. Stephenson increased the lead to twenty points just after the hour when he slotted over a penalty goal, before Miners scored three tries in eight minutes, the first coming on 65 minutes when winger Gareth Paine went over in the corner, Paine scored a second not long after his first and that was quickly followed by a second try of the game for centre Connor Partington, Shaun Dowie only managing to convert the Partington try to make the score 24-18. Any hopes of a Miners comeback where ended with just short of five minutes remaining, Dockers hooker Craig Cook slotting over a drop goal from close range to give the final score 25-18.
Miners are at home this weekend
against East Leeds in the league.
MINERS TEAM = Andrew Groves, Harry Gagen, Mike O’Boyle, Connor Partington, Gareth Paine, Shaun Dowie, Scott O’Brien, Chris Bowers, Danny Jones, Darryl Kay, Tommy Parkinson, Danny Jackson, Dave Rowlands, Subs = Tom Farrimond, Ellis Grimes, Connor Ratcliffe, Scott Travis
MINERS MOM = Shaun Dowie
DOCKERS TEAM = Craig Skelton, Robbie Smith, Ben Crane, Rich Lamplough, Jonny Long, Chris Stephenson, Danny Ulyatt, Darren Bunby, Craig Cook, Chris Lyth, Andy Taylor, Liam Reid, Craig Render, Subs = Gary Priest, Mike Jarvis, Dave Palmer, Nathan Powley
DOCKERS MOM = Liam Ried
