Barrow Raiders v Leigh Miners 7-4-13

Barrow Raiders 28 v 12 Leigh Miners

Leigh Miners did themselves proud yesterday afternoon when they gave Championship side Barrow Raiders a good run for their money in the third round of the Tetley's Challenge Cup, Miners where leading 12-6 at half time before going down 28-12 with the final score definitely flattering the home side on a warm day in Cumbria. Miners where excellent in the first half causing the home side all sorts of problems in attack and defending strongly forcing Barrow into plenty of errors. Andrew Groves scored the first try of the day, scoring in the right corner to give the score 4-0, Barrow took the lead after about twenty minutes with a try under the sticks but after that the rest of the half was all about Miners, Jonny Youds drew the scores level at 6-6 with a penalty goal and with Miners being on top, Barrow on a few occasions where forced into last ditch tackles to keep the scores level. Scott O'Brien regained Miners lead a few minutes before the break when he re gathered his own grubber kick to score on the right side of the posts, Youds converting to give the score 12-6 and that gave Miners a well deserved lead going into the half time interval. The only downside for Miners in the first half was the loss of backrowers Ross Bradley and Lee Gittins who were forced out of the game due to injury.

Barrow come out stronger in the second half but they were still made to work very hard by a determined Miners side looking to cause an upset. Jonny Youds had the first real chance of the half breaking through the Barrow defence being pulled down just short of the line. Barrow drew level when they got the bounce of the ball from a last tackle kick to score under the sticks to tie the game up at 12-12. The home side took the lead for a second time with just short of an hour of the game gone with a try on the left to open up a six point gap at 18-12. Miners still wouldn't go away as they continued to press in the search for more points, but the pressing came to nothing as Barrow dug deep to keep Miners out. Two late tries late in the game sealed the victory for Barrow to give the scoreline a flattering 28-12 in favour of the Championship outfit.

The players and coaches would like to thank all supporters and sponsors who made the trip up to Barrow to cheer on the lads,

This coming Saturday Miners are away to Myton Warriors in the league.

Miners team - Jonny Youds, Andrew Groves, Adam Thomason, Steven Marsh, Sean Pendlebury, Liam Coleman, Scott O'Brien, Kev Howells , Tom Farrimond, Darryl Kay, Lee Gittins, Ross Bradley, Danny Jackson, SUBS = Jimmy Muir, Danny Jones Todd Appleby, Jonny Carroll

Miners MOM -Scott O'Brien