Skirlaugh 12 Leigh Miners Rangers 32: LEIGH Miners Rangers are starting to emerge as strong National Conference Premier Division title contenders after a second successive victory to open the new season.

The Miners did all the damage in the opening 15 minutes when they built up a 16-point lead and never looked back.

The first of their tries came after just 90 seconds when powerful centre Alan Raddicliffe followed up drives from top forward Dave Patterson and GB skipper Tommy Goulden to go 40 metres for the try under the posts that Dave Radley converted.

Minutes later Goulden went in for a second from dummy half and then Reddicliffe claimed his second from 60 metres for Radley to add another goal.

With scrum half Mark Wallington calling the shots and prop Patterson almost unstoppable, it was against the run of play that Scott Yeaman managed to pull a try back with Mark Hewitt tagging on the conversion.

Radley landed two penalties as the Miners went in for the break comfortably ahead by 20-6.

Skirlaugh put the Miners under a lot of pressure at the start of the second half and they had a Matty Hoe try disallowed for a grounding offence.

But almost on the hour Graeme Mallinson did get a try that counted and Hewitt added the extras.

Simon Warhurst settled the Miners nerves when he made a break that Sean Phoenix was able to capitalise on and full-back Darren Pilkington did the rest from half way.

Miners finished strongly with another try, Wallington going under the posts and Radley adding his six goal of the game.