Leigh Miners Rangers 78

Dudley Hill 2 LEIGH Miners Rangers ushered Dudley Hill one step closer to relegation with a superb display of aggressive attacking rugby that ripped the cellar-dwellers to shreds.

It was in the backs that most of the damage was done. Young stand-off Paul Redford asked all the questions and the explosive pace of Paul Shepherd and Mark Sarsfield was too hot for Hill's creaky defence.

But the real star of the show was loose-forward Tommy Goulding who was a real workhorse in attack and defence. He scored two tries and had a hand in two more to shade the man of the match vote from Redford.

For Dudley Hill there were a few crumbs of comfort. They certainly look to have unearthed two young stars in Jamie Brentley and Sean Dickinson and six of their team were from the youth side. Otherwise they will want to forget their heaviest defeat of a miserable season.

The writing was on the wall as early as the first minute when Chris Flynn's drive opened the space for Sarsfield to sprint in - and the procession continued almost unabated for the remainder of the the game.

Chris Walsh did pull back a penalty a few minutes later but Redford's first try, a solo effort from over half way, ended the visitors' resistance.

Seven of the Miners tries were scored from over half way with Shepherd grabbing four and Sarsfield three in the rout. They shared the next two before Goulding grabbed his first. two more from Shepherd and Mark Hudspith made it 36-2 at the break.

With the game won, the Miners refused to let up after the interval. Redford benefited from Goulding's charity for a walk-in, although the stand-off returned the favour later on for Goulding's second. Matt Irwin grabbed one before Sarsfield completed his hat-trick, then the Miners entered a golden spell of six tries in 14 minutes when Dudley never touched the ball.

Shepherd scored two more, although his wing partner refused to be overshadowed and notched one. Flynn completed the show 10 minutes from the end, crashing over for the 15th and final try.

Tomorrow the Miners entertain Redhill at Twist Lane, kick off 2.30pm.