Thatto Heath Crusaders 25 Leigh Miners Rangers 18
Miners Rangers’ league campaign got off to a losing start against title contenders Thatto Heath but the encouraging performance affords plenty of hope for the year to come. On a fine springlike afternoon in the St Helens wastelands Miners dominated the game for over an hour before finally succumbing as Thatto built up a head of steam in the final quarter. With Darryl Kay enjoying an immense game in the front row, Aaron Gorton showing well from the bench, debutant Jack Probert with a strong display on the wing and some enterprising play in attack and defence Miners were good value for the 18-10 advantage they had established going into the last twenty but a string of penalties gave Crusaders the chance to turn the tables and snatch a late victory.
Miners had opened with plenty of purpose, Kay and Dave Rowland making inroads and some neat passing seeing Kieron Eccleston put Shaun MacDonald over out wide, Eccleston adding the extras. Miners extended the advantage with a sensational score as Ellis Grimes burst on to a tapped penalty just inside the Thatto half, broke the first line of defence and stormed away to the posts for the second try, Eccleston again goaling. Thatto rallied as Shaun Quinn linked into attack and sliced over to the left of the posts, but Miners almost extended their advantage as a fine break by Adam Thomason and Danny Jackson almost ended with Scott O’Brien finishing off, the Miners’ captain hauled down just short of the line. Instead it was Thatto back in the game before half time, Luke Bradshaw backing up Jack Jones’ break to crash under the posts and 12-10.
Miners though re-established their advantage early in the second half as Probert finished off out wide and when Eccleston landed a penalty the two-score lead was regained. On the hour though the game began to turn, penalties marching Miners to their own line and Jones with the fortunate bounce of the ball from his kick through to dive over the line. Once more Miners’ discipline proved their downfall as further penalties gave Thatto more territory and two further tries for Corey Lee and Jamie Tracy, and a Jones field goal, rounded things off.
