Wath Brow Hornets 17 Leigh Miners Rangers 11 A TRY deep into injury time sent Leigh Miners Rangers slithering out of the League Express National Cup.

On an horrendous day and on bog of a pitch, open rugby was at a premium as both sides slogged it out.

The Hornets used their big pack to plough down the middle and kept the ball tight while the Miners tried a more expansive game in the hope of find some drier ground out wide for their speedy backs to exploit.

The Cumbria Cup holders had stand-off Craig Johnstone in top form and with powerful packmen Martin Eldon, Paul Davidson and Neil Stewart, they were always going to be tough to beat. But the Miners had their own potential match-winners in stand-off Mick Warburton, Mark Hudspith and Roy Stott, all playing well.

The Miners drew first blood when Hudspith's high kick was spilled by the otherwise safe Gavin Curwen and Mark Sarsfield skated across the mud for a try from 20 metres out. Hudspith added the goal.

But Curwen soon made amends for his error as he and Johnstone linked for the full-back to cross for a converted try under the posts.

The Miners defence, which had looked so secure early on, fell for a sucker punch when Johnstone threw a simple dummy and ghosted in untouched from 15 metres for another six-pointer.

When Eldon was red-carded for kicking out at Mark Meadows, the Leigh side should have capitalised but they only had a Meadows field goal to show for their efforts before half time.

The elements worsened in the second half as the Hornets' 12 men defended heroically and then moved upfield where Gary Todd popped over a one-pointer to make it 13-7.

The Miners suddenly found their finishing power when young winger Steve Clarke scored a fine try after forcing his way through three tackles.

The tie could still have gone either way until deep in injury time when Hornets back rower Scott Anderson crashed through a muddy mass of defenders to grab a disputed clincher.