Leigh Miners Rangers 32 Oulton Raiders 22: LEIGH Miners Rangers moved a step closer to the play-offs with a determined win over gutsy Oulton Raiders to climb into fourth place in the Arriva Trains Conference League.

After a tense first half the Leigh side showed their class with four tries in 10 minutes to kill off the gallant Raiders. But the Yorkshire visitors earned considerable consolation with a strong finish after they trailed 32-6.

Oulton's opening belied their poor league position as paul Fellows, Mark Longley and Carlos Sanchez drove strongly and Alan White provided the creativity.

But the Miners drew first blood when Alan Reddicliffe's cut out pass put Mark Wallington in at the corner. Dave Radley added a penalty soon afterwards but Oulton levelled when a bomb beat Darren Pilkington and Alan White gathered to score a converted try.

It stayed level pegging until Reddicliffe's grubber eluded the defence and Sean Phoenix scrambled in to score.

A 10 minute blast in the third quarter finally settled the match.

Reddicliffe scored a disputed try under the posts that Radley converted and then the stand-off backed up Dave Patterson's break to sprint in for his second.

As Oulton wilted, the hapless Dean Reed cough up possession and Craig Graham was gifted a score. When Reddicliffe burst clear and Pilkington supported for another six pointer, the Miners had the match won.

But the Miners stepped off the gas and let Oulton back into the game. Fellows picked up two tries in quick succession and Paul Halloran ghosted in for another to take the gloss of Leigh's win.