Hull Dockers 16 Leigh Miners Rangers 24: LEIGH Miners made the perfect start to the 2007-8 season with a hard fought win at Hull Dockers at the weekend.

Despite a number of changes to the team, they were still too strong for a Hull Dockers side that finished sixth last season on the back of a strong home record.

In blustery conditions Miners played into the wind in the first half but made a strong start and scored first when John Woods slipped a pass out of the tackle for winger Simon Hartley to send stand-off Andrew Sarsfield in for a try, Woods converting.

With both sides making handling errors it was Dockers that struck back with a strong 15 minute spell, first when Eccles shrugged off a tackle to sprint in at the corner, then when Sellars wriggled through under the sticks, before his kick was grounded by Ulyatt. Paul Taylor adding two goals for a 16-6 lead.

Miners needed to stem the tide before the turnaround, and they did even better than that, scoring right on halftime when Hartley, switched to fullback midway through the half, showed strength to power on to Jim Thompson's clever offload for a try improved by Woods.

With the wind in their favour Miners came back strongly after the restart, Scott O'Brien sending down two 40-20 kicks, and when Hartley again blasted in for a six-pointer the Miners led again.

They had to stand firm in defence, Hartley and Darren Pilkington coming up with try-saving tackles, and twice Dockers were held over the line, before the points were secured late on when Woods broke clear from inside his own half and sent the supporting Thompson sprinting under the posts for a try Woods converted to secure a terrific opening day victory.