Leigh Miners Rangers 48 Wigan St Judes 8

MINERS Rangers boosted their play-off hopes with this victory over already-relegated St Judes on the back of a landslide first-half performance.

With Jonny Youds and Darryl Kay on top form, and popular Australian Shaun Dowie marking his 2014 farewell by captaining the side and bagging 10 points in the first half, Miners were 36-0 up at oranges.

But in a low-key second half Judes showed character to match their opponents try-for-try and salvage pride.

After their loss to Wath Brow the previous week, Miners' top six hopes were far from assured and victory here was imperative.

It took a while for the points to flow, the only score of the first quarter being a slick finish by Andrew Groves, taking an Adam Thomason offload to sneak in for a try goaled by Youds.

But Judes put up stern resistance, Nathan Bevan leading the rearguard action, and Miners had to wait for the next breakthrough.

When that did come, via Youds' break finished by Jack Probert, it proved the catalyst for a flood of points before the interval.

Probert was in for his second off Dowie before the terrier-like Aussie grabbed two of his own, the first off Youds' neat reverse pass, Dowie adding the conversion, and the second again from Youds with the assist.

The Miners fullback finished the scoring with a deserved six-pointer of his own, first to Scott O'Brien's reverse kick to dot down behind the posts.

When Matt Wilkinson grabbed his first senior try for the club 10 minutes into the second half, Miners appeared on course for an even more emphatic result than their 62-0 at Parsons Meadow in the earlier fixture.

But Judes were well served by the effervescent Barry Rothwell and the spirit of Andrew Silcock, Olly Oladele and Tom Owen.

They grabbed their first try when David Carney put Brett Taberner through a gap to score, and although Miners had another six points of their own when Thomason broke clear and put O'Brien over, Judes at least had the final word as Craig Abbott slid in to ground Silcock's kick in the in-goal.

Gamebreaker – Jack Probert's first try opened the floodgates for Miners.

Gamestar – Jonny Youds with an outstanding game from the back, creating a host of tries and enjoying a perfect afternoon's goal kicking.

Miners: Jonny Youds, Andrew Groves, Shaun Dowie, Adam Thomason, Jack Probert, Jimmy Muir, Scott O'Brien, Tom Farrimond, Matty Meaden, Darryl Kay, Tommy Parkinson, Michael O'Boyle, Ellis Grimes.

Subs: Matt Wilkinson, Matt Astley, Danny Jackson, Mark Nicholson.

Tries: Groves, six, Probert (18, 24), Dowie (27, 30), Youds (34), Wilkinson (52), O'Brien (70).

Goals: Youds, seven, Dowie.

Man-of-the-match Jonny Youds.

Judes: Barry Rothwell, Gareth Thomas, Danny Holmes, Nathan Jones, Craig Abbott, David Carney, Andrew Silcock, Tom Owen, Nathan Bevan, Olly Oladele, Dave Walls, Brett Taberner, Danny Clayton.

Subs: John Silcock, Nathan Moore, Liam McMenemy, Peter Thomas.

Tries: Taberner (64), Abbott (79).

Man-of-the-match Barry Rothwell.

Referee: Chris Campbell.

MINERS Alliance team reached their second final of the season as they defeated Latchford Albion in a thriller 18-16.

A week after losing out to the Warrington side in the league promotion decider Miners returned and this time came away with the win thanks to Todd Appleby’s late try.

Earlier tries for Gareth Pain and Garry Fitzmartin appeared in vain as Latchford held a narrow advantage but Appleby’s late clincher and a third goal for Sam Shepherd sealed the win.

Miners now face Wigan St Patricks in the play-off final at Widnes’ Select Security Stadium on Saturday.
The women’s team went down to a hard-fought defeat at St Pats in their play-off semi-final, losing 19-8.

This weekend the first team travel to Egremont while the Alliance prepare for their showpiece occasion at the home of Widnes Vikings.