LEIGH Miners Rangers went down to a dismal cup exit as Ince Rose Bridge made light work of the division’s difference in the two teams’ standings to secure a well-merited success.

In broiling conditions Miners were second best throughout and must now pick themselves up for a battle for survival in the NCL Premier Division with home tests against high-flying Thatto Heath and West Hull to come. Miners were given the boost of welcoming Adam Thomason back after eighteen months on the sidelines whilst Jimmy Muir was also back on board, although Brad Hargreaves dropped out with injury.

However Bridge, bolstered by the robust presence of ex-Warrington man Paul Wood, opened the stronger and they drew first blood when successive penalties gave them the position to work an overlap and Kieran Murphy rode the tackle to touch down at the corner.

The Ince side were on top in the opening stages and had a further try disallowed when Mitch Parr was held up over the whitewash before Danny Cassidy extended the lead with a penalty for a high tackle.

The game lacked any rhythm at this stage as penalties constantly disrupted play but in the ten minutes to half time Miners appeared to be gaining the upper hand.

First a cut-out pass from Muir put Thomason over at the corner and then as half time loomed another fine piece of attacking play saw Thomason put Louis Brogan sprinting in from thirty metres out to give the hosts the lead.

That should have been the platform for Miners to go on and take control but straight from the restart Bridge had another attacking opportunity as Miners lost the kick-off and from the possession Chris Boylan held off the tacklers to touch down under the posts, Cassidy goaling for 12-8.

Four minutes in to the second half and it was a two score lead as Peter Valentine linked into the attack to perfection to angle through from 25m out, Cassidy again goaling.

Miners gave themselves a lifeline as after a prolonged period of pressure on the Bridge line Jack Reynolds danced his way through to touch down but the next score wouldn’t come despite the sterling efforts of Darryl Kay and instead Bridge snatched the decisive score as Jonny Brown drove his way through the tackles to dot the ball down under the posts.

That sucked the life from Miners and Bridge finished with a flourish as Wood broke through and although he was halted by the valiant Tom Maloney he had support in abundance with Valentine the recipient to score his second of the game.

Miners now host Thatto Heath this Saturday 2.30pm.

The under-18s saw their North West Cup semi-final against Wigan St Judes abandoned with the score at 18-0 in their favour, with the league to make a decision on the outcome of the game.