LEIGH Miners returned to winning ways with this hard-fought 36-34 win at York Acorn.

After conceding two early tries Miners then began to work their way back into the game and replied with a Jamie King touchdown.

A further Acorn try made it 16-6 but Miners responded with Mitch Cox narrowing the gap to four points at the break.

In the second half tries from Lee Gittins, Connor Ratcliffe, Jordan Hellam, Andrew Groves and Sam Peet put them ahead.

The Alliance marched into the semi-finals of the NWML Plate for the third year in succession after a 32-22 win at league leaders Bury Broncos whilst the women’s team lost at Oulton 22-14.

On Saturday the first team host Wath Brow in a league fixture which also serves as the deciding second leg of the Steve Prescott Foundation Charity Shield, Brow holding a six point advantage (2.30pm).