MILFORD MARLINS (HOME)
Leigh Miners welcome Milford Marlins to Twist Lane for the second time this year on Saturday afternoon this time in the semi-final of the Conference Challenge Trophy having previously travelled down back in March for the second round of the Tetley’s Challenge Cup which Miners won 16-6 on a wet afternoon in Leigh, Kick off 2-30pm.
Miners go into this weekend’s semi-final on the back of two successive away league defeats at Lock Lane (36-6) and Skirlaugh (32-12) which has seen them slip three points behind a playoff spot into ninth position, although Miners are not in a playoff position at the minute they will be confident of stringing a good run of results together over the coming weeks to grab a top six spot. The league though will be the last thing on the players’ minds come Saturday afternoon as they will be fully focused on reaching the Conference Challenge Trophy final for the second successive year and with the final this year being played at Leigh Sports Village there can be no bigger incentive for Miners to win on Saturday and have the chance to defend the crown they won last year on home soil. The lads know they will have to be much better than they have been in the last couple of weeks with them conceding way to many points in defence and being nowhere near creative enough in attack but with club captain Scott O’Brien returning to the side this week along with several others Miners will be confident of improving against a big Milford outfit.
Coaches Allan Coleman and Paul Whitworth will be without three of last week’s seventeen that travelled to Skirlaugh with Danny Myers and Luke Murfin both being away on holiday along with Lee Gittins who is out injured having dislocated his knee last weekend. Coming into contention for a place in the side this week are Todd Appleby Jonny Carroll Liam Coleman Andrew Groves Joe Harrison Andrew Hodson Jimmy Muir Scott O’Brien and Connor Partington who returns to the club after a spell with Leigh Centurions u20s.
Milford travel to Twist Lane on the back of a 22-12 away defeat at local rivals Hunslet Warriors last weekend to leave them in fourth position in Division One on twenty two points with a game in hand and one point behind third place Warriors who currently occupy the final promotion spot. In the cup this will be Milford’s first away tie having had four home ties to reach the semi-final, beating Ovenden 24-8 in the preliminary round, Millom 40-4 (Round 1) local rivals Oulton Raiders 35-28 in Round 2 and Kells 9-8 after golden point extra time in a nail biting quarter final.
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The second team have a free weekend.
The u18s are away at Shevington Sharks on Sunday in the league.
Leigh Miners Ladies are at home to Hunslet Hawks on Sunday in the league, Kick off 2pm at Twist Lane.
ACTION FROM THE PREVIOUS MEETING BETWEEN THE SIDES EARLIER THIS YEAR IN THE SECOND ROUND OF THE TETLEY’S CHALLENGE CUP
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