Woolston 32

Leigh Miners Rangers 22 MINERS Rangers saw their three-match winning streak ended in a bizarre game at Warren Ayres' old stomping ground.

At the midway point of the second half, Miners trailed 26-8 and looked dead and buried but a stunning comeback led by hat-trick centre Mark Hudspith and forwards Jon Light and Tommy Goulding pulled them to within one score, before a late breakaway try cemented Woolston's victory.

Woolston may have been struggling at the bottom before kick off but their league position looks decidedly false. Led by miniature prop Lee Westwood and with a vastly experienced team, the tore Miners flapping defence to shreds as they ran in tries from Patterson, Muckatt and Smith.

Two Steve Flannery penalties and an injury time try for Hudspith gave the Miners a tenuous lifeline at 18-8.

Just minutes into the second half and that lifeline seemed cut as the Miners attack floundered and ex-international Quarmby gathered to sprint the length of the pitch. A Woolston penalty put the score at 26-8 and it looked all over.

Credit to Miners they roared back in style, although their momentum owed much initially to the sin-binning of two Woolston players. Using their numerical superiority, Miners crossed twice more through Hudspith and when sub Lee Lomax stretched over to narrow the gap to 28-22 it was anybody's game.

Miners pushed for the levelling score but in their frenzy to keep play alive, the ball too often went to ground. It was from one such abortive attack that Woolston completed the scoring in the last minute, Cole picking up on his own line and sprinting clear.

Tomorrow (Friday), Miners face old rivals Wigan St Pat's at Twist lane, kick off 7.30pm.