Kells (Away)
Leigh Miners make their third and final visit of the the regular season to Cumbria on Saturday when they take on Kells in Round 20 of the NCL Kingstone Press Cider Premier Division, Kick off 2-30pm at Kells Welfare Ground.
Miners make the long trip to West Cumbria having returned to winning ways last weekend with a 18-4 home victory against bottom of the table Hull Dockers, the contest being played in heavy rain from start to finish with there being plenty of errors from both sides throughout in what was a poor game of rugby. The only positives to take from the game being the strong defensive performance and getting the two points which keeps Miners in second place with three games remaining.
This week in the build up to Saturday’s game Leigh Centurions assistant coach Paul Cooke came down to the club on Tuesday to take a skills session, with all in attendance enjoying the evenings training. The team that travel to Kells this weekend know they are going to have to produce a very strong performance this weekend if they are to return home with the two points, especially with Kells looking to bounce straight back after being hammered at Siddal.
Coach Allan Coleman returns to the fold this week after returning from a successful tour with the England Young Lions in Canada. Like most weeks this season Coleman is forced into making a number of changes from the previous week, dropping out of the side from last weeks win against Hull Dockers for various reasons ranging from Injuries, weekends away and work commitments are Matt Astley, Martin Gray, Mike O’Boyle, Sam Peet, Matty Pendlebury and Dave Rowlands. Coming into the side are Will Ashworth (u18s), Joe Digby (u18s), Kyle Disley (u18s), Todd Fenlon (u18s) and Connor Ratcliffe.
Kells go into Saturday’s game on the back of a 46-6 away defeat at Siddal, the defeat all but ending the West Cumbrian outfits chances of making the playoffs with them being five points behind sixth place Wigan St Pats with only three league games remaining.
When the two teams met back in April on St Georges Day at Twist Lane, Miners won a entertaining contest 18-10.
Leigh Miners second team are at home on Saturday against Leyland Warriors in the league, kick off 2-30pm at Twist Lane. Last weekend the seconds won the NWML Trophy for the second time in three years when they beat Halton Farnworth Hornets 18-12 in awful conditions in Warrington.
A mixture of the clubs first year u18s and u16s play their second game in group D of the Hilary Steel Memorial trophy on Sunday away at Oldham St Annes, the lads won their first game last weekend against Woolston Rovers
Leigh Miners Ladies are at home on Sunday against Oulton Raidettes in Round 9 of the Women’s super six series, kick off 2pm at Twist Lane.
