LEIGH MR dug deep for a deserved 24-12 win against Woolston at rain-drenched Twist Lane.

The incessant rain could not put a dampener on celebrations as new coach Warren Ayres put one over his old team.

And the weather helped the Miners cause with 10 minutes to go and the score tied at 12-12.

Woolston errors let in the home side for late tries that sealed a fine win.

Early in the game both sides looked unsettled and struggled to keep possession.

In a stop-start game MR took the lead with a Chris Lee penalty but the visitors hit back with a try and goal.

MR's returning forwards Mark Meadows and Steve Flannery grafted hard, as did Chris Flynn and MOM Lee Lomax.

The teams exchanged penalties as Woolston went in at half-time 8-4 up.

After the break MR had the storm behind them, and they used it well with good kicking from Stuart Pugsley and Mick Warburton.

Spoiling tactics from Woolston brought two penalties for Mick Warburton for 8-8.

And Miners took the lead on the hour mark when Chris Flynn crashed over from Pugsley's delayed pass.

But the Warrington side hit back with a try to level the scores again with 10 minutes left.

Sub winger Howard Newton used his explosive running to set up the crucial try for Pugsley, Warburton again goaled.

With minutes remaining Woolston fumbled a kick and Warburton slid over the whitewash for another six pointer.

Last week Miners lost 15-11 to Dewsbury outfit Thornhill.

Mick Farrimond's try and a Warburton drop goal were all they had to show for their first-half efforts, and late on they grabbed a consolation try for Matt Irwin, Warby again on target.

Miners A beat Spotland 20-18, sub forward Timmy Howson grabbing the match-winning TD. Tries also for Paul Coop, Graham Hindley and Clive Aldred.

Miners U18s beat Wigan St Pat's 30-8 (MoM Tommy Goulden, Richard Varkulis 2, Simon Hartley, Ian Hodson and Scott Coulton).

ROYAL OAK beat Ashton 37-16 in the NorthWest Counties Division Four with fine games from MoM D Buxton, S Fishwick, M German and I Hall. But they were well beaten at Milnrow by 31-10.

Other scores . . . Division One: Pilkingtons 18 Leigh MR 6; Division Two: Hindley 33 Haresfinch 20, Latchford Albion 14 Hindley 14; Division Three: Salem Hornets 8 Leigh Harriers 22, Leigh Harriers 18 Parr Hare & Hounds 0; Division Four: Ashton 17 Culcheth 8; Division Six: Bolton Mets 10 Leigh East 14, Parkside Golborne A 8 Rylands A 9; Alliance: Spring View 18 Leigh MR 0, Leigh MR 22 Widnes Albion 33.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.