Leigh Miners v Wigan St Pats 2-8-14

Leigh Miners 10 v 46 Wigan St Pats

Leigh Miners grip on the Conference Challenge Trophy was well and truly ended this afternoon as they went down to an embarrassing 46-10 home defeat against local rivals Wigan St Pats, Pats outplaying Miners from start to finish in every department to run out comfortable winners. The playing conditions where awful in the opening quarter with the rain coming down heavy, the ball being like a bar of soap with both teams spilling the ball on numerous occasions. With all the errors that was occurring St Pats where the smarter and made sure the game was being played in the Miners half of the field, the first points of the afternoon coming from the boot St Pats hooker Brad Smith who slotted over two penalty goals to give the visitors a 4-0 lead. The visitors scored their first try when they capitalized on a poor Miners pass to kick the ball on and react first to score through Phil Glover out wide on the right, Brad Smith converting to make it 10-0. Smith was involved again soon after when he darted over from dummy half to score and add the extras under the posts to give the score 16-0. Miners where given a lifeline just before the break when St Pats lost the ball on there own line from a scrum, Shaun Dowie picking up the loose ball to score at the side of the posts, Jonny Youds converting to make it 16-6 and give Miners hope going into the second half after an absolute dreadful opening forty minutes.

Miners started the second half a little better than they started the first and should of scored early on after going straight through the middle of the St Pats defence, only to throw the ball in touch and waste a good opportunity. The visitors increased their lead soon after that error with a try from centre Earl Hurst who was a constant threat throughout, Smith converting to make it 22-6. Miners hit back with a try from winger Sean MacDonald but that was as good as it got for the home side in what was a dreadful afternoon for them. Ex Miners half back Ryan Smith opened the floodgates with a good individual try, going round a good few weak Miners tackle attempts to score out wide on the left, A Brad Smith penalty goal increased the score to 28-10 before to more converted tries followed from Brad Smith and Nicky Murphy to make it 40-10. Miners afternoon got worse even after giving away needless penalties away along with having a awful completion rate when half back Jimmy Muir was sent off for punching. Liam Gannon put more misery on the host with a try right on full time, Andrew Cunningham converting off the the touchline to end the rout and give St Pats a well deserved 46-10 victory, setting up a home semi final tie against West Hull in September.

Next week Miners are at home against Thatto Heath Crusaders in the league.

MINERS TEAM = Jonny Youds, Andrew Groves, Leon Brennan, Shaun Dowie, Sean MacDonald, James Muir, Craig Ashall, Matt Astley, Mathew Meaden, Darryl Kay, Tom Parkinson, Danny Jackson, Martin Gray, Subs = Tony Doyle, Ellis Grimes, Tom Farrimond, Gary Gittins

MINERS MOM = Tommy Parkinson

ST PATS TEAM = Brad Hargreaves, Anthony Atherton, Earl Hurst, Charlie Mitchell,Jayden Sandford, Ryan Smith, Joe Prior, Kieron Harrison, Brad Smith, Aaron Forshaw, Tom Atherton, Liam Gannon, Andrew Cunningham, Subs = Joshua Leiper, Phillip Glover, Nicky Murphy, Jamie Winstanley Bristow

ST PATS MOM = Brad Smith