Wigan St Judes 0 Leigh Miners Rangers 62

MINERS Rangers returned to winning ways in this midweek derby and recorded their biggest away win in the NCL thanks to this mauling of Wigan St Judes.

After successive away defeats this was just what the doctor ordered for Miners and they took full advantage with some sparkling rugby, scoring some tremendous tries and showing resilience in defence to snuff out the sporadic Judes attack.

The visitors got the ball rolling inside the first 10 minutes, Judes already stricken by the departure through injury of their one outstanding playmaker Dean Hunt, and when Tyrone Mears spilled the ball inside his own 20, Scott O’Brien snapped up possession before putting Shaun Dowie over for the opener.

Tries followed at regular intervals thereafter, the next being his first for the club for Matty Meaden as he sliced through from close range under the posts.

Some scintillating rugby created the next, as Danny Jackson stormed clear down the right before finding Jonny Youds in support for the first of an eventual hat-trick.

Youds had a second when he supported a fine weaving run by the immense Martin Gray for another six pointer.

O’Brien was next on the scoresheet as he linked up with Jackson to score and Miners had the points in the bag long before the interval.

There was no respite for Judes early in the second half as young Jake Waterworth claimed two tries in almost as many minutes as Miners extended their advantage still further.

Waterworth was also the creator for the next try as his long-range break was halted just short of the line, but Jack Probert was on hand to drive over from acting half.

Youds claimed his hat-trick and Adam Thomason added two of his own before Miners wrapped things up at the final whistle by reaching the 60-point mark, Andrew Groves sprinting down the right wing but as he was hauled down by the covering defence he got the pass away for the supporting O’Brien to score.

This weekend, May 10, Miners host Wigan St Patricks in a packed day which will also showcase the club’s Healthy Stadia network and serve as a tribute day for Bob Dowling. Kick-off is 2.30pm with a curtain-raiser and Healthy Stadia events from approx. 1pm