Leigh Miners Rangers 26 West Hull 42.

The sunshine came out for a packed weekend of action as LMR Academy, seniors and Rotary Club of Astley joined forces to raise funds for Teenage Cancer Trust at Sutton Park.

With the Pit Stop Beer Festival in full flow throughout supporters were richly entertained as LMR under-13s entertained Flintshire Falcons and the under-9s played Shevington. In between these matches a star-studded LMR Masters side played their counterparts from Bank Quay Bulls and debutant Tommy Goulden captured the eye with two fine solo touchdowns. Mark Sarsfield also grabbed a brace, the highlight coming as he swooped on a spilled ball inside his own half to show his trademark turn of pace to score. Bank Quay did grab a late consolation but Miners preserved their unbeaten record 5-1.

Saturday concluded with a high-scoring NCL fixture as the first team aimed to climb off the foot of the table against in-form West Hull. The visitors drew first blood with a try for Richard Squires as he forced his way over but with the big crowd urging them on Miners turned the game on its head by the half hour mark. First they levelled when Mark Nicholson took a fine inside ball from Scott O’Brien and charged over the line and then Louis Brogan powered through to put his side ahead, Tom Maloney adding the goal. When Jimmy Muir’s classy dummy opened the gap for him to cut in and score another six pointer Miners led 16-4 and were good value, but defence has been the Achilles heel and by half time the hosts somehow found themselves in arrears once again. Ryan Langton linked in to the attack to score out wide and when James Goulsbra-Miller finished off a superb passing move Wests had the momentum. Right on half time they were back in front as the try was awarded despite Ryan Steen appearing to lose the ball as he went over the line.

Miners responded well at the start of the first half and scored a try from nothing as O’Brien was ankle-tapped on the last tackle just metres short but flicked the pass away for Martin Gray to gleefully pounce and dive over the line, Maloney converting to put his side ahead once more.

But Wests looked the more likely despite that setback and they were swiftly back in front as the outstanding Liam Reid angled his run to perfection to storm over from 25m out.

It was all Wests from this point as they seized command of the game and with Elliot Windley a threat at acting half and willing runners in support they cut through the Miners defence to add further tries for Goulsbra-Miller, Nathan Powley and Scott Partis.

Miners did have the final word as O’Brien’s kick was palmed back by Brogan for Todd Fenlon to score at the corner but the defeat leaves them stuck in bottom place with a tough trip to Rochdale Mayfield this Saturday 2.30pm.

On Wednesday evening the Alliance headed north to face struggling Bamber Bridge and recorded a hard-earned 28-10 win to keep themselves in promotion contention.

This weekend they host one of the big names of the division, Halton Simms Cross, 2.30pm.

The women’s team got back to winning ways on Sunday at Sutton Park with a 42-4 win over Batley Bulldogs.