Ince Rose Bridge 18 Leigh Miners Rangers 30
Miners returned to winning ways with this vital first away league win of the season. On a day when the bottom half of the division showed their teeth, it was imperative that Miners picked up the two points and a league double over high-flying Bridge, and the Leigh side duly obliged with this hard-fought but deserved victory. In blustery conditions Miners had made a number of changes with Darryl Kay returning from international duty and Ross Bradley back in the centres, whilst Lee Gittins switched to second-row in place of the injured Shaun Marsh. Youngster Ryan Ravenscroft earned a starting place at centre after his impressive performance the previous weekend and his under-18s colleague Josh Ward was called up to the bench for a debut. John Woods came in on the wing in place of Jonny Carroll. Bridge were without their pack leader Scott Winstanley through injury as they came into the match in identical form to Miners, with successive defeats at Wath Brow and Saddleworth.
Miners started the game brightly but found themselves behind after six minutes, Scott O’Brien’s kick blocked by the shins of Matty Meadon and the hooker picked up the loose ball before sending scrum-half Tony Baker sprinting clear from inside his own half and under the posts, Kenny Baker adding the simple conversion. The Leigh side were undaunted by that setback and responded swiftly, a fine pass by Liam Coleman sending youngster Ravenscroft charging through the tackles and over the line from ten metres out, Jonny Youds with the conversion to level matters. That was the way things remained until the half hour as Miners absorbed a lot of pressure before going down the other end and taking the lead, some fine rugby switching play left and Woods showed his finishing class as he forced his way over by the flag for 10-6. However three minutes before the break and it was level pegging once again, Meadon making yards from acting half and finding Adam Dwyer in support down the right, he in turn found Matthew Cunningham to finish off out wide.
The home side regained the lead ten minutes into the second half as a procession of penalties saw them camped on the Miners’ line, Adam Jones making the pressure tell as he crashed over beside the posts and Dwyer taking over the kicking duties with the conversion. Back though came Miners and once again it was all square, O’Brien with the well-timed ball for halfback partner Coleman to go through the gap close to the line, Youds goaling. Bridge almost retook the lead when some fine play saw them break down the left but Bradley made a tremendous tackle to force Dwyer into touch thirty metres short.
Given the nip-and-tuck nature of the game Miners opted for the two points when they were awarded a penalty for holding down 35 metres out and although play was delayed by the arrival on the field of a ball which may well have been the original one William Webb Ellis picked up and ran with, Ward held his nerve to slot the kick between the posts. However Miners spilled the ball from the restart and then compounded the situation by being caught offside, allowing Dwyer to immediately level matters once again. With ten minutes to go and Miners had victory in their sights, Ward putting Gittins through a gap and the second-row finding Aaron Gorton in support to break through the tackle and stretch over the line, Youds goaling for 24-18. Victory was confirmed with four minutes remaining, Gorton putting Dave Rowlands over beside the posts and Youds’ goal wrapping up a priceless victory.
Rose Bridge – Martin Packingham, Kieran Malone, Craig Sanby, Wayne Leyland, Adam Dwyer, Kieran Ecclestone, Tony Baker, Adam Jones, Matt Meadon, Craig Young, John Clossick, Chris Boylan, Kenny Baker Subs – Connah Matthews, Lee Jones, Matt Cunningham, Jamie Malone
Tries – T Baker (6), Cunningham (37), A Jones (51)
Goals – Dwyer 2, K Baker
MoM – Adam Dwyer
Miners – Jonny Youds, John Woods, Ross Bradley, Ryan Ravenscroft, Sean Pendlebury, Liam Coleman, Scott O’Brien, Kevin Howells, Aaron Gorton, Darryl Kay, Adam Thomason, Lee Gittins, Danny Jackson Subs – Josh Ward, Dave Rowlands, Tom Farrimond, John Lloyd
Tries – Ravenscroft (11), Woods (31), Coleman (55), Gorton (70), Rowlands (76)
Goals – Youds 4, Ward
MoM – Danny Jackson
Referee – Chris Campbell
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