LEIGH RU lost their way in a 35-15 defeat at Fleetwood.

They began brightly but, despite good shows from R Fletcher and Shee, fell away badly and must be wondering how they came to lose to such an inferior side.

They cut first blood, Shee going clear for Fletcher to send Jim Bridge in for the try. Hudspith converted.

Back came Fleetwood to level it. The game degenerated into fits and starts but Leigh were unlucky to see a try from Hampson ruled out for a forward pass.

Hudspith's penalty edged them ahead, but Fleetwood took the interval lead with a second TD.

In the second half Leigh continued to waste possession, never giving their better backs the chance to shine.

But again they took the lead, sub Robinson held just short, Derbyshire finally crossing.

It was the moment to force the advantage, but Leigh fell away with continuing indiscipline giving Fleetwood a series of penalties; then, in a vain bid to retrieve it, the home side took advantage to scamper through for three tries and a flattering victory.

Tofts drew 17-17 with Fleetwood. They forged clear with early tries for Leake and Vickers; then Taylor grabbed a third for Porteous to convert.

But Fleetwood blasted back for the draw in a tense finale.

LEIGH RU face teams from Carlisle, Lostock and Fylde this weekend.

1st XV (Carlisle, H): R Bullough; A Westwell, S Lee, D Darbyshire, J Bridge; M Hudspith, C Marsh; S Davies, S Young, T Westwell, S Haste, N Aspinall (c), D Bullough, J Cabedo, C Whittle. Subs: C Cooney, A Bardsley, D Wright.

A Team (Lostock, H): From I Westwell (c), I Wright, M Downs, D Finn, G Lloyd, K McKenna, J Hutchinson, M Parker, C Travers, C Leonard, C Innes, R O'Brien, D Penn, R Houghton, P Clarke, T Cartwright, C Hampson, M Prescott.

Extra A (Fylde, A): From P Devall, R Vernell, R Lawson, J Will, T Ashurst, S Hollingsworth, L Schroeder, N Greenwood, N Hutchinson, R Davies, S Middlehurst, B Wright, L Thomas, G Lloyd, M Hilton, S Harrison, J Krause, G Erskin.

Tofts (Lostock, A): From J Porteous, D Leake, P Appleton, G Egerton, G Norman, S Leyland, B Yates, G Miller, J Ramsell, S Sale, G Butler, P Nugent, I Buckingham, G Green, G Vickers, A Warburton, I Smith, K Pennington, K Gillon.

Vets (Fylde, H): S Taberner, M Dainty, I Eckersley, S Harper, S Culshaw, A Higson, A Barton, T Trumble, S Jones, P Tustin, S Marsden, A Blackburn, D Thompson, D Phillips, S Ranson, S Monaghan, S Owen, C Boardman, T Sutton.

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