LEIGH Miners Rangers maintained their unbeaten start to the league campaign with a hard-fought and tense win over Cumbrian heavyweights Kells in this gripping battle at Twist Lane.

A strong start to the second half, after the sides were locked at 6-6 at the interval, set the stage for the Miners win although Kells battled back to within six points before a late Jonny Youds penalty settled the match in Miners’ favour.

The visitors were well-led by the ex-professional guile of Carl Sice and their strong-running pack whilst Miners had Lee Gittins in match-winning form and a personal tally of ten points from Youds proving decisive.

After over half an hour of scoreless but compelling rugby Miners opened the scoring through Scott O’Brien, goaled by Youds, but it was the former Ireland international Sice who levelled matters up on the stroke of half time with a try converted by Ross Gainford.

Miners who roared out of the blocks the quickest in the second half with two tries in the 15 minutes after the restart, firstly through the in-form Connor Ratcliffe and then Youds himself, putting Miners 16-6 ahead.

Kells' Tony Burns went over and the game was right back in the balance but with ten minutes remaining Youds landed a penalty to give Miners an eight-point cushion.

The under-18s were in league action at home to Saddleworth and won 36-12 with tries from Joe Boardman (2), Jack Gatcliffe, Robert Crompton, Zac Fagan, Jack Adshead and Josh Wall, Fagan with three goals and Gatcliffe one. The women went down to heavy defeat at Featherstone.

On Saturday Miners entertain Hunslet Club Parkside in the Conference Trophy, 2.30pm.