Leigh Miners 30, Oulton 28: LEIGH Miners Rangers sprung a late, late show to earn the two points against a physical Oulton Raiders side in a thrilling Twist Lane battle.

It looked as though the Yorkshire side were set for their first ever win on Miners' soil when they opened up a six point lead with two minutes of the 80 remaining, but two stoppage time tries had Miners celebrating a famous victory.

A youthful Miners side, with four under-18s players in the team, made a nightmare start when Gavin Wood's kick to the corner was grounded by Dan Elston for the opening score inside the first minute.

John Woods responded for Miners, bouncing off a tackle to score an equaliser out wide, before the home side took the lead when the outstanding Scott O'Brien broke down the middle and sent Simon Hartley in for a try improved by Woods.

However, Oulton responded strongly and led at half time, first when Scott MacDonald crashed through out wide, then when Miners were reduced to 11 men following a double sin-binning, and Wood sneaked through the gap to score a six pointer.

With halfbacks O'Brien and Andrew Sarsfield causing mayhem down the middle, and Danny Mole and Adam Thomason leading the forward effort, Miners were outstanding in the third quarter, Sarsfield breaking and sending Aaron Gorton in for a try to level matters, then O'Brien quickest to Chris Humphrey's pass out of the tackle for another try improved by Woods and a 22-16 lead. Oulton were reeling but some brave last gasp defending prevented Miners wrapping the game up in this purple patch, and their efforts appeared to have paid dividends when first Wood limped his way in for his second and then with two minutes to go Sasch Brook powered over for a try to give the visitors a 28-22 lead.

That should have been game over, but Miners refused to submit, and Hartley stretched over for a try three minutes into injury time. The missed conversion left Oulton ahead by two, but still Miners didn't give up, and got their reward when Wood's wild pass was hacked on by Humphrey, who dribbled the ball over the tryline and pounced for the winner.

Miners second team put in a brave effort but lost out 24-22 in controversial fashion at Waterhead.

This weekend the Miners are away at East Hull.