Leigh Miners v Skirlaugh 20-4-13

Leigh Miners 36 v 34 Skirlaugh

Leigh Miners got back to winning ways yesterday afternoon but only after they turned around a 34-12 scoreline at half time to take the game late on much to the disappointment of Skirlaugh who are still searching for their first win of the season. On a warm afternoon in Leigh it was the visitors who opened the scoring with an interception try and from that two more quickly followed as Skirlaugh found themselves 18-0 up after a blistering opening ten minutes. Hooker Tom Farrimond got Miners on the scoreboard after about twenty minutes, Steven Marsh converting to give the score 18-6. Skirlaugh was in no mood to let that try affect them, five minutes later they scored two quick fire tries to open up a 28-6 lead to leave the Twist Lane crowd shell shocked. Miners pulled a try back through Jonny Carroll but when Skirlaugh scored their second interception try just before half time the contest looked as good as over with the visitors leading 34-12.

Miners knew they needed a response in the second half after receiving a well deserved rollicking at half time, and they got just that scoring after a couple of minutes of the restart from the hard working Danny Jackson, Marsh adding the extras to give the score 34-18. Jimmy Muir pulled another try back to give Miners hope with about an hour of the game with the score at 34-24 but when Skirlaugh got a penalty at the side of the posts in the last ten minutes it looked as though any chance of a comeback would be over for Miners, the kick surprisingly going wide and the score stayed at 34-24. With time running out Miners knew they needed to chance their arm and they did just that with five minutes remaining, Adam Thomason breaking down the right to send in Sean McDonald to score, Marsh adding the extras to put Miners within four points of their visitors with the score at 34-30. MOM Scott O'Brien completed the comeback which not many would have thought was possible after Miners first half performance with a couple of minutes remaining, Scott stepping through the Skirlaugh defence only to be blatantly tripped by the left winger has he was going over the line, the referee awarding a penalty try and sending the Skirlaugh man off. Steven Marsh landed the simple conversion under the sticks to put Miners in front for the first time at 36-34. From the restart Miners saw out their set then banged the ball in touch to get them to the final whistle to leave Skirlaugh gutted after losing late on for the second week running, while Miners were relieved after they had the character to comeback after such a poor opening forty minutes.

Next week Miners are away to York Acorn.

Miners team - Jimmy Muir, Andrew Groves, Martin Lewis, Steven Marsh, Jonny Carroll, Liam Coleman, Scott O'Brien, Kev Howells , Tom Farrimond, Darryl Kay, Adam Thomason, Danny Jackson, Dave Rowlands SUBS = Ryan Monaghan, Luke Murfin Todd Appleby, Sean McDonald

Miners MOM -Scott O'Brien

Leigh Miners 2nd team got knocked out of the North West Counties Cup with a 58-16 defeat away at Rochdale Mayfield