West Hull 24, Leigh Miners Rangers 20

WEST Hull may have been crowned the best amateur RL team of all time but they were given the fright of their lives by Leigh Miners Rangers in the first-ever National Conference Grand Final.

The result was in doubt right until the final minute with the Miners showing they are right back among the amateur game's elite.

Miners coach Warren Ayres had mixed emotions afterwards. He was proud of they his team had played but disappointed they they'd not come up with a win.

"They gave they all and you can't ask for more than that. West Hull are the best amateur side in the country but we matched them pound for pound and strike for strike and with a little better finishing could have beaten them.

"But I was disappointed with some of the refereeing decisions that went against us. They were crucial calls and West Hull scored from two of them.

"West played superbly and they are the benchmark for clubs like us to aspire to. We are almost there and we'll learn from this experience."

Appealing

West Hull took the lead after eight minutes when Harris's bomb was snatched by Newby from the grasp of Craig Graham with the Miners appealing in vain for offside.

Leigh thought they'd hit back when centre Mark Sarsfield broke clear and crashed in at the corner for a spectacular score. But as the Miners celebrated the touchjudge's flag went up and the score was wiped out.

Harris extended Hull's lead with a penalty and when Lyon darted in for a second Wests try, the signs were ominous.

But the Miners brought on super sub Mick Warburton and he sparked a remarkable comeback by taking a fine return pass from Simon Hartley to score on 36 minutes. Then, a Wilson chip over the top was gathered by Tommy Goulding who blasted over. One goal from Hartley had the Miners trailing 12-10 at half time.

When Lynn grabbed a controversial second try and six minutes later the Miners were claiming a conspiracy when Lynn completed his hat-trick, again in controversial circumstances.

But the Miners didn't capitulate and set up a thrilling finish with a try from Sarsfield and another by Goulding with Hartley adding a goal.