Leigh Miners Rangers 24

Woolston Rovers 12

TWO tries in the final three minutes of the match condemned Rovers to a fourth successive away defeat in a rain-drenched National Conference League Premier Division clash on Friday.

Miners opened the scoring after nine minutes with a penalty goal from winger Chris Lee.

But Rovers hit back mid-way through the half when hooker Drew Povey was held up just short and he played the ball quickly to full back Peter Livett who went on his own from acting half back to score. Steve Martin added the conversion.

A penalty from Miners' stand off Mick Warburton narrowed the gap to two points but a similar effort from Martin gave Rovers an 8-4 interval advantage.

Ten minutes into the second period Warburton landed a penalty for the home side and Rovers were reduced to 12 men when substitute John Welch was controversially sent off for an alleged high tackle.

Another penalty from Warburton brought the scores level and then on 60 minutes Miners went in front when loose forward Chris Flynn darted through a gap to score.

Rovers refused to lie down and a kick along the ground from captain Graham Smith was chased by Tim Iddon, who touched down in the corner to level the scores again at 12-12.

Three minutes from time Miners substitute Howard Newton made a break down the right wing that stretched Rovers' defence and a quick play-the-ball allowed scrum half Stuart Pugsley to spin out of an attempted tackle to score.

Right on time Miners made the game safe when, from a scrum on their own line, Rovers lost the ball and Warburton was on hand to gleefully pick up and touch down.

To rub salt into the Woolston wounds the referee dispatched Iddon to the sin bin for back chat.

Rovers came out of the game with a lot of credit and if they can start performing for the full 80 minutes results will start to go in their favour.

Outstanding for Rovers were loose forward James Brabin, prop forward Graham Muckalt and Graham Smith.

Tomorrow, Saturday, Rovers have a mouth-watering home game against Oldham St. Annes in the National Conference League Premier Division. Kick-off is at 2.30pm at Bennett's Rec, Padgate.

Rovers v Leigh MR: Peter Livett; Mark Cosgrove, Paul Fiddler, Tim Iddon, Mark Wallington; Graham Smith, Steve Martin; Mark Shephard, Drew Povey, Graham Muckalt, Neil Chapman, Jon Cole, James Brabin. Subs: James Bell, John Welch, Mark Roughneen, Neil Smith.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.