LEIGH EAST scored a 36-14 win against Blackbrook - but victory was not as easy as the scoreline suggests.
It does, however, boost flagging morale.
The return of dynamic hooker Gary Fletcher - celebrating his Great Britain U23s selection - and the first try of the season from last year's record breaker Darren Hall, was a massive shot in the arm for East's injury-crippled squad.
The game hung in the balance for 69 minutes. Then the introduction of still-stitched John Gunning proved the difference.
Nothing much had separated them until then.
Tries from Simon Warhurst and outstanding full-back Mark Kay plus a goal from Anthony Gredecki gave East a 10-6 interval lead.
On 52 minutes Gary Fletcher took Kay's superb pass on the burst for a try goaled by Gredecki. East took control.
Kay grabbed an opportunist try after Gunning's kick was fumbled and battling winger Mark Jones finished a Wingfield-Gunning move.
Confident sub Lee Ganley scored on his first team debut but the biggest cheer was for Hall's 80th minute touchdown.
East U10s won 34-16 at Oldham St Anne's with MoM Daniel Weaving scoring a hat-trick. Tries also for Lyndon Robertson, Andrew Keating, Phil Taylor and Ben Taylor. TT Karl Morris.
East U9s proved too strong for Woolston Rovers, scoring tries through B Hansen, D Hodgson 3, M Howard 3, M Rozman and K Williams. MoM A Thomasson. TT N Whittaker.
Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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