LEIGH Miners Rangers surrendered their unbeaten league record with an entertaining 40-30 defeat at mid-table Egremont.

The Twist Lane men dropped from top to fourth in the NCL Premier Division table but only after falling just short following a stirring comeback.

They effectively lost the match in the closing stages of the first half as they collapsed after taking the lead to ship five tries and go into the break 28-4 down.

Miners dominated the opening 15 minutes but only had a Scott O’Brien try to show for it following a number of missed chances.

Egremont then snatched the lead with their first attack as the visitors fumbled a kick and Pete Bewsher powered over.

Miners continued to struggle with the home side's kicks to give away possession in dangerous areas.

Egremont were only too eager to take advantage.

Further tries followed from Leon Crellin, Rhys Davies and Matt Bewsher before Egremont rubbed salt in the wounds with a breakaway in the final minutes of the half after a Miners attack broke down near the home line.

The ball was hacked on a wild chase downfield, hoofed ahead three or four times and whilst Miners had a legitimate shout for their covering defender Adam Thomason being shoved away off the ball, play was waved on and Kevin Barnes ran in the ball from 80 metres out.

The break came at the right time for Miners as they gathered themselves and came out fighting.

Thomason darted over from out wide to grab the first score of the second half for Leigh and although Egremont responded when Mal Caton offloaded for Matt Bewsher to grab his second the visitors were undaunted.

Mick O’Boyle score out wide before the loose-forward grabbed a second, blasting through at pace and bursting the tackle to score beside the posts.

When Brad Hargreaves got the ball down at the corner Miners were just 10 points behind with plenty of time remaining, but Egremont crucially regained possession from the restart and enjoyed a spell of pressure that culminated with Kieran Glenn touching down.

Still Miners weren’t finished and another spirited effort saw Shaun Dowie take on the defensive line and cut through for a try but Egremont had enough of a cushion and Miners’ afternoon was further soured by the dismissals of Ellis Grimes and Jonny Youds for dissent, either side of Ross Brookes’ penalty on the final whistle.

The Alliance side enjoyed a 52-14 win against Oldham St Annes and the Under-18s beat the same opponents 28-22 but the women’s team went down to a heavy defeat at home to Normanton.

This Saturday the first team travel to Lock Lane and the Alliance host Woolston Rovers (2.30pm). On Sunday, the women’s team travel to old rivals Wigan St Patricks and the U18s are at Portico Vine.