Wath Brow Hornets (Away)
Leigh Miners make their second of three long trips to Cumbria on Saturday where they will take on Wath Brow Hornets in Round 10 of the NCL Kingstone Press Cider Premier Division, Kick off 2-30 pm at The Clubhouse.
Saturday’s game will also be the first leg of the Steve Prescott Foundation Trophy Final with the second leg taking place on the 9th July at Twist Lane in the return fixture. In previous years, the Trophy has been a curtain raiser for the Kingstone Press NCL Season with the aim of raising money for the charity, However, due to both clubs playing in various cup competitions earlier in the year and the poor winter weather it was decided to play for the Trophy over two games with the winner decided by an aggregate score across both league encounters.
Miners travel up the M6 on the back of a 36-6 defeat away at Siddal last weekend, the sixteen lads that played working hard throughout but with not really being any threat with ball in hand Miners found themselves on the back foot in both attack and defence for most of the game.
This week’s game at Wath Brow promises to be just as tough if not tougher than last week at Siddal with Miners having a poor record in Cleator Moor in recent years, the last win being back in 2010 when Miners won in the end of season playoffs. The players know if they have are to have any chances of ending that record this weekend, they will have to control the ruck a lot better than they did at Siddal and offer more all across the board in attack.
Coach Allan Coleman makes six changes from last weekends defeat at Siddal, with Matt Astley, Mark Nicholson and Dec Taylor all being away for the weekend, along with Martin Gray (holiday), Danny Jones who misses out with a bicep injury and Gareth Paine (quad). Coming into the side are Will Ashworth (u18s), Mitchell Cox, Todd Fenlon (u18s), Lee Gittins, Jake Lloyd (u18s), Sam Peet and Dave Rowlands
Speaking about last weekends defeat at Siddal, Coach Allan Coleman said “Despite the defeat I was really proud of our effort at Siddal.”
“The sixteen men that travelled gave there all.”
“When you have big players missing like we did, It’s always going to be tough.”
On this week’s game at Wath Brow, Coleman added “It’s same thing again this week, we have some big players unavailable again but it happens.”
“If we all give the same effort as last week I will be happy.”
“It’s just a bit frustrating knowing we will have played the top sides around us in recent weeks when not at strength.”
Wath Brow Hornets have made a good start to the 2016 season by winning 5, drawing 1 and losing 2 of their eight matches in the league to leave them in third place on 11 points. The Hornets last game was two weeks ago when a under strength side lost 30-4 away at Siddal, with several key dominoes expected to return to the side that missed the Siddal game Wath Brow will be confident of returning to winning ways this week against second place Miners.
Leigh Miners second team are at home on Saturday against Pilkington Recs in the league, Kick off 2-30pm at Twist Lane.
The u18s are at home on Sunday against Leyland Warriors in the league, kick off 11-45am at Twist Lane.
Leigh Mines Ladies are away on Sunday against Selby Warriors in Group B of the Women’s super six league.
