Leigh Miners Rangers 50 Hull Dockers 22
Miners Rangers were crowned NCL Premier Division league winners for 2015 with this victory over Hull Dockers. Despite the final scoreline this was a hard-fought contest with Dockers, resilient as always, determined to rip up the script and leading 16-14 at the interval. But Miners regrouped at half-time and a blistering opening to the second half with three tries in the first ten minutes paved the way to victory and the League Leader’s Trophy. Finishing top of the table for the first time in seven years, with one game still to be played, Miners can reflect on a fantastic achievement and look ahead with confidence to the challenges and opportunities to come in the cup and play-off competitions.
With Darryl Kay’s holiday absence leaving Tommy Parkinson as 2015’s only ever-present to date, Miners had Mick O’Boyle and Adam Thomason back in the team, and the home side began the contest in champion style as their slick attacking rugby blew Dockers away in the first fifteen minutes. First a tremendous Jonny Youds break down the right put Brad Hargreaves over for the opener, then a neat drop-off ball put Jimmy Muir over for a six pointer before Muir returned the favour for Thomason to score and put Miners well on top at 14-0. Dockers though regrouped and dominated the remainder of the half, Chris Stephenson and Andy Kay influential with their kicking games and Kay opened their account as he snapped up a bobbling pass to cut through for the try. That was swiftly followed by a second for the Hull side, Kay’s deft chip bouncing wickedly in Dockers’ favour and the pass out wide found Jason Bowsley on the overlap to score, and improbably the visitors took the lead when Stephenson muscled over from close range to leave Miners with much to ponder at the interval.
The home side began the second half in scintillating style though as three quick tries had them in full control once again, and this time there was no let-up for Dockers. Scott O’Brien put O’Boyle through the gap from 20 metres out to score and then the Miners’ captain’s kick sat up kindly for Youds to gather and storm over the line. When O’Boyle and Gareth Pain took play down the left wing in a superb break Andrew Groves was on hand to finish off a fine team try and put Miners well on top. The hosts were determined not to take their foot off the gas and extended the lead further when Shaun Dowie dived over from acting half, and although Dockers never threw the towel in and had a further score when Jon Eccles went over out wide, Miners finished with a flourish, Muir scything through from twenty metres out as the home side elected to run a penalty and then at the death Tom Farrimond surged over to bring up the half century.
Miners – Andrew Groves, Brad Hargreaves, Jonny Youds, Adam Thomason, Gareth Pain, Jimmy Muir, Scott O’Brien, Chris Bower, Danny Jones, Martin Gray, Tommy Parkinson, Danny Jackson, Tom Farrimond Subs – Shaun Dowie, Mick O’Boyle, Ellis Grimes, Matt Astley
Tries – Hargreaves (3), Muir (10, 69), Thomason (16), O’Boyle (45), Youds (47), Groves (50), Dowie (57), Farrimond (77)
Goals – Youds 7
MoM – Shaun Dowie
Dockers – Craig Skelton, Richard Lamplugh, Ross Kemp, Jason Bowsley, David Palmer, Chris Stephenson, Andy Kay, Arron Bradley, Nathan Powley, Chris Lyth, Ben Crane, Jon Eccles, Adam Reading Subs – Darren Bunby, Mike Jarvis, Craig Render, Dan Suddaby
Tries – Kay (19), Bowsley (26), Stephenson (32), Eccles (63)
Goals – Kemp 3
MoM – Craig Skelton
Referee – Billy Pearson
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