BELOW-PAR Leigh East never seriously challenged the big guns of the Conference.

Hull side Ideal Esberg, who have dropped just three points since joining the league last season, were never in danger as they piled up a 35-6 win.

East did little to help their cause, losing vital possession and missing a procession of tackles.

Yet for the first half-hour they managed to hold Ideal to just three points. Ten points in 10 minutes changed all that.

The one bright spot earned East a first-class try, Darren Hall making the early running and quick hands sending full-back Mark Kay over, John Gunning adding the goal.

Good efforts from Kay, Anthony Gredecki, the Gunning brothers, Tim Fletcher and Blinkhorn.

But East will need much better on Saturday when Blackbrook visit Grasmere Street.

The previous Saturday East produced one of their famous Great Escapes.

A 79th minute try from winger Mark Jones earned them a 26-22 win against Millom.

But it should never have got to that nailbiting stage.

East had a comfortable 14-0 lead with tries from Phil Gunning and Gredecki plus three John Gunning goals; then it was 20-6 with Gredecki grabbing his second, Gunning again on target.

Then it all went wrong as the Cumbrians charged into an unexpected lead. Egg on faces time!

Happily, Hall - a great try-scorer in the past but yet to make his mark this term - set up Jones for the face-saver.

Good points, however, did come through: Stephen Tooze, 19, made 37 tackles in a non-stop show, prop Shaun Whiteside is fighting his way back to fitness.

And Gary Pendlebury and Phil Gunning are adding valuable experience while John Gunning remains dominant at stand-off.

East 2nd won 24-6 at Rylands with tries from MoM John Morris, Michael Sephton, Dale Keavney and Lee Ganley, Austin Monks adding four goals. And they followed up with their fourth straight win, a thumping 34-6 win against Pilkington Recs to leave them clear leaders in Division Six.

Tries from John Taylor, Sephton, Jason Gallagher, Morris, Ganley and player-coach Bobby Hoey with Morris hitting five goals.

East U10s beat Pilkington Recs 14-6 (B Davies 2, S Quinn; MoMs R Parkinson, S Grundy, TT C Fahy).

East Tigers U10s beat Orrell 24-18, their third straight win of the season, with four tries for Lyndon Robertson. TT was Ben Taylor with Adam Russell the most improved player.

East U9s beat St Judes 16-8 with TT Ben Hanson and MoM Matt Rozman; an impressive debut from Adam Thomasson.

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