Leigh Harriers 32, Haresfinch 27: FINCH should have won this game, but they lost their composure at the latter end of the first half, when they should have been using the advantage of the wind and the slope.

Leigh opened their account with a try, but Finch bounced back with a wonderful 20 minute spell, when firstly a combined break by winger Chris Mason and full back Mark Tagg down the right, ended up with centre Allan Barker forcing his way over on the left for a try.

This followed with a break down the middle by scrum half Colin Rogers to send second row Ian Derbyshire over for a try under the sticks converted by Barker.

Hooker Stuart Simmons then coolly dropped a goal for Finch to take an 11-4 lead. But Finch then lost the plot and were down 18-11 at half time.

Leigh increased their lead after the beak with a try but Finch replied when substitute Danny Flynn made a storming run to put second row John Woods crashing over for a try converted by Barker. Leigh came back with a converted try before Finch replied when Ian Derbyshire put Colin Rogers darting through for a try converted by Barker.

Then with Finch really on top, strong running by forwards Danny Flynn and Ste Marsh enabled Allan Barker to score a superb try wide out to get just one point behind, but Leigh sealed it with a final try.

The Franco's Wholesale Ltd man of the match was shared between prop Lee Burke and scrum half Colin Rogers, closely followed by the usual top performance of skipper and loose forward Shaun Kilgannon and a storming second half from prop Danny Flynn.