Thornhill Trojans 20 Leigh East 23: LEIGH East hero Michael Whiteside scored the most important try of his career on Saturday to guarantee his side a place in the second round of the Arriva Trains Conference Play-Off Competition.

And if ever a try was scored through power generated by sheer courage and determination, then this was it.

On a hot, energy sapping day and with East trailing by three points with only seconds on the clock, the host side looked like finishing victors after a see-saw battle for supremacy. But then East made a last valiant push and Whiteside, with one great surge, burst through taking three defenders with him for a real grandstand finish.

With so much at stake this had not been a pretty game between two of the top six clubs in amateur rugby.

East were workmanlike rather than stylish and showed only short spells of the flair that has seen them become attacking high fliers. But they had a tremendous amount of commitment and tenacity in the ranks particularly in the forwards and full back Simon Warhurst.

They had the skills of Man of the Match Kilshaw, Woods and Rowson's eye for an opening and Kay's positional sense. And, in a game which could have ended any way, they had the resolve to battle on to the final whistle.

East had a 5-0 lead after 34 minutes from two Woods penalties and a Kilshaw drop goal but trailed 8-5 at the interval through a penalty and a converted try scored right on half time. It was soon 12-5 when Thornhill added two more penalties before Rowson reduced the deficit to one point with a fine try goaled by Woods.

East's luck was in four minutes later when Gunning's pass landed at Woods's feet only for the centre to boot the ball up in the air, leap over the defence to collect and score, adding a long range goal for good measure. Within 12 minutes, however, Thornhill were 20-17 ahead from a try and two penalties.

With literally seconds of real time remaining Thornhill must have already been planning their trip to West Hull in the next round when Whiteside shattered their dreams with his mighty effort.