Leigh Miners Rangers retain Challenge Trophy
Conference Challenge Trophy Final
LEIGH MINERS RANGERS retained the Conference Challenge Trophy with a 42-14 victory over WIGAN ST PATRICKS.
A superb defensive display – particularly in the first half – laid the platform for an ultimately comfortable win which sees the Miners name go on the cup for the second time in its two year history.
St Pats had the better of the opening exchanges and took a 10th minute lead when scrum-half Anthony Griffiths pounced on an error from Leigh full-back Jonny Youds for a score that Brad Smith improved.
However, by half-time tries by Jimmy Muir and Youds – plus the first of Youds seven goals – meant it was 10-6 as the sides returned to the dressing rooms.
Phil Glover re-established Wigan’s advantage when he touched down nine minutes into the second period, but despite a later effort from Matt Charnock that proved to be as good as it got.
Leigh took control of the contest with five tries in the second half as the boot of Youds added a further six goals.
Youds – with his second – man-of-the-match Scott O’Brien (2), Tony Doyle and Andrew Groves all crossed the whitewash as Leigh passed the 40-point mark to claim the trophy for the second time in as many years.
Sunday September 29
Leigh Miners Rangers 42 v 14 Wigan St Patricks
Premier Division round-up
LOCK LANE moved top of the table following a 26-20 win over SKIRLAUGH.
Scrum-half Danny Rowse was instrumental in the Castleford side’s success as he crossed for two tries and landed three goals.
Phil Lythe and Adam Garlick were the other try scorers as Lock Lane battled back from a 13-6 half-time deficit to pick up win number 18 of the season.
Ross Kemp led the Skirlaugh resistance with a brace of tries and three conversions, whilst a further score from Liam Read and two Chris Brown field-goals meant the Hull visitors were in the hunt all game.
Fellow Minor Premier hopefuls THATTO HEATH CRUSADERS slipped up when they went down 25-24 at home to WATH BROW HORNETS.
The champion’s success means they are now level on points with the Crusaders and within two points of leaders Lock Lane with a game in hand.
Half-back Karl Dixon continued his fine form this season with a two-try showing for the Hornets and he also added the crucial field-goal which separated the sides.
Jamie Devine and Peter Bewsher grabbed the Cumbrian’s other tries and three Scott Pink goals completed the points haul.
A hat-trick from Jamie Tracey ultimately proved in vain for a Thatto side that had fought back from being 14-6 behind at the interval.
Shaun Quinn landed two goals for the hosts as Lewis Foster and Adam Walsh claimed the other tries.
SIDDAL confirmed their place in the play-offs with a hard-fought 18-10 success over WEST HULL.
Steven Hope, George Ambler and Shaun Garrod were the home sides try scorers in a win which saw the Halifax side leapfrog their Hull opponents to go fourth in the table
The reliable Gareth Blackburn kicked three goals to keep the resilient visitors at bay, who managed a try and goal from Josh Hart and another effort from Kurtis Jackson.
MYTON WARRIORS but a major dent in EGREMONT RANGERS top-six hopes with a 38-26 win.
The home side – who are already relegated – roared into a 30-12 half-time lead and held on to claim just their sixth win of a disappointing campaign.
Lee James – with a hat-trick – and Kris Walker – a try and seven goals – played leading roles in the Warriors win, whilst tries from Alec Hobman and Chris Wainman sealed the deserved success.
The visitors headed home having scored five touchdowns of their own through Lewis Beckwith, Rhys Davies, Kieron Glenn, Michael Ellwood and Richard Farrer. John Paul Brocklebank (2) and Ellwood adding the extras.
YORK ACORN were another already relegated side to triumph in emphatic fashion thanks to a 56-16 win over EAST HULL.
Leigh Rientoul and Mike Embleton both helped themselves to a brace of tries, whilst Joe Budd, Arron Thompson, Nick Speck, Reece Rushworth and Joel Johnson also joined them on the score sheet.
Goals from Ryan Gallacher (2) and Anthony Chilton (8) completed the rout, with Easts marksman Carl Puckering landing just two in response.
Lee Brown, Louis Brown and Ryan Steen all crossed in the first half as the visitors remained in touch at 20-16 at the break.
Saturday September 28
Lock Lane 26 v 20 Skirlaugh
Myton Warriors 38 v 26 Egremont Rangers
Siddal 18 v 10 West Hull
Thatto Heath Crusaders 24 v 25 Wath Brow Hornets
York Acorn 56 v 16 East Hull
Division One round-up
WIGAN ST JUDES remain locked in a battle with East Leeds for the Division One title following a comfortable 42-6 win over MILLOM.
With the Leeds side having a week off St Judes are now just points behind with both having two games remaining.
Ross Brookes converted an Anthony Dixon try for the visitors consolation score but it was never going to be enough to halt a home side that finished with an eight try haul.
Daryl King (2), Steve King, Tommy Parkinson (2), Dave Myerscough. Nathan Jones and Mark Whitaker all touched down as Gareth Thomas landed five goals to complete a good afternoon’s work.
HUNSLET WARRIORS are another side who remain on course for promotion following a 42-16 victory over ECCLES.
Gary McClelland was the star man with a 26-point haul – three tries and seven goals – whilst Jake Corney, Mark Cunningham, Luke Pennington and Jonny Dawson also crossed.
Early tries to Jordan Parker and Mike Carney – who ended with two goals – gave the visitors some hope but they couldn’t hold on and added just one more try – from Eze Harper – to their account by the final whistle.
OULTON RAIDERS slipped to a 36-18 home defeat to MILFORD MARLINS.
Jamie Benn converted all three of Matty Bullough’s tries to give the Raiders some hope, but the sin-binnings of Luke Richardson, Danny Hardy and Brendan Shephard made life too hard.
Milford – who moved above Oulton with the win – had two try showings from Josh Parle and Mark Gibson, whilst Ryan Oxtoby and Eddie Wilson also crossed.
Oxtoby landed six goals to complete a 16-point haul.
ROCHDALE MAYFIELD continued their fine form with a big 60-12 win over DEWSBURY CELTIC.
Lewis Sheridan continued to rack up the points with two tries and eight goals and Paul Brearley helped himself to a brace.
Joe Quanici, Rob Kershaw, Ben Naululmatua, Matt Calland, Jack Sampson, Sam Butterworth and Nicholas Hargreaves added the other touchdowns as Mayfield continued to keep their outside chance of promotion alive.
Celtic – who were only 16-6 down at the break – got their points when Nikki Crabtree converted a try double from Pat Foulstone.
Bottom side STANLEY RANGERS won just their fourth game of the year with a 36-28 triumph over BRADFORD DUDLEY HILL.
The Wakefield side recovered from 16-12 down at the break to hit back and claim the points as they look to finish off the foot of the table.
Chris Grice, James Senkiw, Billy Griffiths, Joel Marsh (2) and Chris Bingham all crossed for Stanley with Danny Grice (5) and Griffiths tagging on the extras.
In response the visitors had four goals from Alex Dickinson, to go along with tries from Luke Malek, Ryan Dickinson, Lewis Evans (2) and Josh Chamberlain.
SADDLEWORTH RANGERS picked up and 18-0 win at neighbours WATERHEAD.
Rangers led 12-0 at the mid-way point thanks to tries from Marlon Miller and Gavin Dodd were improved by Michael Coates.
Coates stretched the lead with a penalty in the 72nd minute before he supplied the kick to allow Miller to claim a second in the closing minutes.
Saturday September 28
Hunslet Warriors 42 v 16 Eccles
Oulton Raiders 18 v 36 Milford Marlins
Rochdale Mayfield 60 v 12 Dewsbury Celtic
Stanley Rangers 36 v 28 Bradford Dudley Hill
Waterhead 0 v 18 v Saddleworth Rangers
Wigan St Judes 42 v 6 Millom
Division Two round-up
SHAW CROSS SHARKS sealed their place in Division One next year with a 44-18 win over LEIGH EAST.
Andrew Fawkes and Aiden Chandler led the way with two tries each for the Sharks, with Fawkes and Shaun Squires (5) capping a great performance with the goals.
Zach Johnson, Squires, Danny Flowers and Martin Woodhead also touched down for the hosts, meaning Leigh efforts from Mark Cahill and Dean Balmer (2) were not enough.
Leigh’s kicking successes were shared between Adam Holland (2) and Balmer, although the Lancashire outfit were not helped by the sin-binnings of Adrian Dootson and Holland.
Saturday September 28
Shaw Cross Sharks 44 v 18 Leigh East
Division Three round-up
FEATHERSTONE LIONS completed a “quick-fire” double over BLACKBROOK with a thrilling 24-22 success.
The home side were four points ahead with just two minutes left before a late Danny Giles touchdown and goal from Richard Frankland gave the Lions the win.
Frankland closed with a try and four goals while other Featherstone touchdowns went to Sam Candlin and Anthony Yates.
Neil Babbs, Danny Parkes (2) and Aaron Hewitt crossed for the home side whilst Jordan Welsby added three goals.
Saturday September 28
Blackbrook 22 v 24 Featherstone Lions