THIS top-of-the-table clash produced a thriller which went right down to the wire.

The Leigh side started strongly and had the better territorial advantage, and after concerted pressure they took the lead with a converted try.

Scorpions hit back when Gareth Chadwick dummied and then darted over the line. Craig Campbell converted to level the scores at 6-6. But within a minute Leigh East scored another converted try when they broke from halfway. Scorpions were playing some good rugby, with the forwards driving the ball into the heart of the Leigh defence. They created the position for Andy Johnston to scoot over from dummy half, after spotting a gap in the Leigh defensive line. Campbell missed the relatively easy conversion but made amends later when he made a strong run and passed to Steve Woodburn who put Ben Simpson in at the corner. Campbell converted from the touchline to put the Scorpions in front at 16-12. But just before half-time Leigh scored another converted try to go into the break 18-16 ahead. The second half didn't produce any tries but was never short of thrills as the game flowed from end to end. Scorpions squandered numerous chances when in good attacking positions near the opposition's line. The nearest they got to scoring was when Andy Johnston got over the line only for the referee to say he was held up a split second before he forced the ball down.

With 10 minutes to go Craig Campbell kicked a penalty to level the scores after Leigh East were caught offside. Both sides then tried to clinch the game by trying for drop goals with Dave Tanner's effort just swerving wide of the posts.

Then, with two minutes of normal time left, Leigh were awarded a penalty when the referee adjudged the Scorpions had ripped the ball in the tackle. They duly kicked it to win the match, but the Scorpions' performance deserved a share of the points.

Blackpool Scorpions 18 Leigh East 20