LEIGH Miners Rangers celebrated their 52nd anniversary on Saturday but visitors Lock Lane played the party poopers to perfection with a commanding 40-16 victory to apply pressure to the promotion race in the closing straits of the season.

With a three-point cushion over their nearest rivals for automatic promotion Miners are still in a healthy position but the margin for error is that bit finer in the final five matches ahead.

Miners, who were without some key performers, were never at the races after the opening quarter as a giant Lane side packed with aggression dominated the bulk of the game.

The visitors drew first blood but Josh Ward and Adam Thomason combined to put Deacon Monks slicing through for the leveller as Ward converted.

The introduction from the bench of Craig Savage sparked Lane to renewed efforts though.

He regained the lead for his team before Curtis MacDonald powered through tackles to score.

Some sparkling offloads and handling led by Chris Siddons and continued by Lewis Price ended with Jordan Bull finishing off out wide before Lane posted a fifth try when a clearing kick was charged down and MacDonald gratefully swooped in to touch down the loose ball.

Savage scored a fine solo effort on the restart but finally Miners rallied with two tries in three minutes on the hour, hinting at the most unlikely of comebacks.

First Owen Johnson dived over from acting half then some fine interplay between Ward and Andy Badrock took play from deep in the Miners’ half for Ward to take the return pass and finish off a quality try.

But Lane stifled the comeback as Siddons dived over from close range to round off a commanding win.

League leaders Thornhill march four points clear and with the chasing pack below Lane dropping points again it appears a straight shoot-out between these two clubs for the second automatic place.

Thornhill will have a key role to play as they face both Miners and Lane in the coming weeks. Miners’ other fixtures see them travel to relegation battlers Oulton and Dudley Hill and host Thornhill and mid-table Skirlaugh. The final game is away at in-form Pilkingtons.

Lane meanwhile have home games against York Acorn and fourth-placed Milford and away trips to lowly Shaw Cross, Thornhill and finish at Skirlaugh.