Leigh East slip to defeat

Things started well for the home side with eventual man-of-the-match Adam Holland stepping through the line for an eighth minute opening try.

He also converted to make it 6-0.

Soon after Dockers scored their first try of the game when stand off grubber kicked into the corner for wing Lewis Suddaby to pounce.

Scrum-half Craig Skelton kicked the first of five goals and the game was level.

With Jamie Waters, Louis Else and Pat Rainford working well, East made ground but couldn’t find a way through the defence. At the other end veteran hooker Craig Cook scored from dummy half with Skelton goaling.

It was tight for the remainder of the first half with the short handed visitors picking up a couple of injuries.

East conceded two tries in three minutes at the start of the second half which changed the complexion of the game.

Pete Holmes ran clear for the first with Cook somehow claiming a second despite a mass of bodies.

Skelton converted both.

The 24-6 scoreline had Leigh East chasing the game and they hit back after 55 minutes when smart work on the left saw Holland send out a 20 metre pass and centre Danny Griffiths put wing David Griffiths over for the try.

The crucial score came after 62 minutes when Suddaby claimed his second following unselfish centre play by Steve Milne. Milne followed up a few minutes later, re-gathering his own kick after an unfortunate slip from Ellis Noon. Skelton’s goal made it 34-10.

East did respond through a Pat Rainford try but lost possession soon after trying to work the ball left. Holmes collected to dash over from 30 metres for his second and Dockers seventh to complete their scoring.

There was one final act of East defiance when Holland kicked through from a scrum around 30 metres from the line and David Griffiths won the race for his second try of the game. This time Holland converted but it wasn’t enough and Leigh East suffered defeat again.