THE day dawned with a heavy frost but Leigh’s hopes were high going into this encounter against sixth placed Burnage following an encouraging performance last week away at Warrington.

When the game kicked off there was a mist descending on Round Ash Park but Alex Leadbetter emerged from the gloom,on the left wing, to scorch over for a well-worked try after 5 minutes. Elliott Ryan went close with his conversion attempt.

Burnage reduced the deficit to two points, with a well-taken penalty after 25 minutes and were quick to add to their tally on 35 minutes, when, following a concerted effort, they went in for a try, wide out on their left hand flank. This score took the sides off at half time with Burnage leading by 8 points to 5.

An early sin binning for offside, in the second half, reduced Leigh to fourteen men for ten minutes and Burnage were soon to capitalise on this advantage to score a well constructed, converted try through their forwards to extend their lead to 15-5.

Leigh bounced back bravely and scored a good try through Calvin Crompton, who selected a great line, to take a short ball off Wayne McCabe, to scatter several Burnage defenders to crash over for a well deserved score, which was well converted by the trusty boot of Elliott Ryan.

Burnage were to stretch their lead to 6 points again through a penalty, on 67 minutes but the last 13 minutes truly belonged to Leigh as they battered their way up the pitch on several occasions.

They were duly rewarded for their persistence, on 74 minutes, when Ollie Shepherd brilliantly latched onto a canny chip through to race away and beat the Burnage defence in a foot race, from sixty metres, to score in the corner for an unconverted try.

The final minutes were all about Leigh attacking and Burnage valiantly defending.

Burnage finally cracked and gave away a penalty in the last minute but Elliott Ryan, unfortunately, was not able to convert the penalty into points with the final kick of the game.

Another very close game for the Leigh Lads who really worked their socks off again in this encounter.

Surely the tide must turn soon and they will be rewarded for their massive efforts.

Next week, they travel away to face 4th placed Northwich, in what should be another stern test in this highly competitive League.