WEST HULL (HOME)
Leigh Miners play there final league game of the regular season on Saturday when they entertain newly crowned NCL minor premiers and Conference Challenge Trophy winners West Hull in Round 26 of the NCL Kingstone Press Cider Premier Division, Kick off 2-30pm at Twist Lane.
Miners go into Saturday’s game with there top six playoff place already confirmed but know only a win will do if they want to have any chance of finishing in third or fourth position and have at least one home tie in the playoffs. With Lock Lane drawing 18-18 at West Hull on Wednesday night, a victory for Miners over champions Wests on Saturday would see them finish in at least fourth spot, to finish in third Miners would need Siddal to lose at already relegated Hunslet Warriors, while a defeat on Saturday would see Miners finish in sixth and face a tough trip to Siddal next weekend. The lads though are eager to finish strong and get a win which would see them complete a league double over West Hull after beating them 28-10 on Humberside back in July.
Coaches Allan Coleman and Paul Whitworth will have to make at least one change from the seventeen that played at Egremont two weeks ago after Danny Jones this week underwent knee surgery which will keep him out for the remainder of the season. There will certainly be selection headaches for Allan and Paul, with Matt Astley, Andrew Groves, Tommy Parkinson and Matty Wilkinson all coming back into contention for a place in the side.
West Hull travel to Twist Lane having won the Conference Challenge Trophy against East Leeds two weeks ago and by beating Thatto Heath Crusaders last weekend they secured top spot to win the minor premiership. Wests now hold every piece of silverware on offer for NCL clubs and will be determined to finish the regular season with another win before the playoffs start.
