Leigh Miners Rangers 30 Lock Lane 12
Miners Rangers climbed to third in the standings with this vital victory over fellow play-off contenders Lock Lane. With both sides missing key personnel with the onset of the holiday season the stage was set for new faces to make an impression and Miners had their stars with Sam Shepherd enjoying a trademark faultless afternoon with the boot to land five goals, Todd Appleby and Joe Harrison sharing hooking duties to good effect and Chris Bowers and Darryl Kay leading a strong pack effort, whilst Brad Hargreaves scored another hat-trick for the season at centre. Lane’s scores bookended the match but they found Miners’ defence in robust form for the remainder of the game despite the efforts of Chris Siddons, Craig Jones, Joe Groves and Luke Tagg.
Lane opened ominously as Miners spilled the kick-off and from that position Lane battered their way through, Siddons with the pass to put Jones charging under the sticks, Connor Turner goaling, and further chances came and went for the visitors as their offloading game caused problems for the hosts, the scoring pass though going to ground on two occasions. Miners gradually carved their way back into the game and Harrison wriggled free of the tackle to dive over beside the posts to level matters. Tommy Parkinson then saw a try ruled out for forward pass before two scores in the minutes before half time had the home side ahead. First play was spread left for Hargreaves to go in for his first then right on the whistle Miners moved play to the opposite centre from a scrum and Mick O’Boyle went in for a deserved touchdown and 18-6.
The second half opened in tense fashion and the third quarter was scoreless, thanks in no small part to the outstanding Miners’ defence as Kay and O’Boyle produced try-saving tackles to deny Lane. Just after the hour came the crucial try and Hargreaves provided it, bursting through 25m out and stepping inside the fullback to score under the posts. In the final minutes he added his treble as Scott Travis linked in to attack and put the big centre through out wide, and although Lane had the last word as Turner finished off well out wide the points were firmly secured for Miners.
Gamestar – Darryl Kay with an immense effort in the pack
Gamebreaker – Brad Hargreaves’ second try on the hour ensured Miners’ victory
Miners – Scott Travis, Sam Shepherd, Mick O’Boyle, Brad Hargreaves, Gareth Pain, Jimmy Muir, Adam Thomason, Chris Bowers, Todd Appleby, Darryl Kay, Tommy Parkinson, Martin Gray, Dave Rowlands Subs – Joe Harrison, Darryl Appleby, Mark Nicholson, Joe Lorrimer
Tries – Harrison (19), Hargreaves (38, 63, 74), O’Boyle (39)
Goals – Shepherd 5
MoM – Darryl Kay
Lane – Mikey Hayward, Connor Turner, Danny Holmes, Luke Tagg, Adam Garlick, Aaron Dobek, Nathan Fozzard, Johnny Payne, Callum Buttler, Craig Jones, Richard Humphries, Joe Groves, Chris Siddons Subs – Danny Rowse, Lee Land, James Woods, Bart Hold
Tries – Jones (1), Turner (77)
Goals – Turner, Rowse
Sin Bin – Land (71, high tackle)
MoM – Mikey Hayward
Referee – John McMullen
