LEIGH RU crashed into the new season with a greatly-changed team - and a heavy defeat.

They went down 28-7 at Workington despite a thundering start with Marsh going in for the TD after a series of pack drives. Hudspith converted. The Cumbrians forced a way back by the break with an unconverted try.

After the break Leigh spurned a penalty chance and further opportunities, allowing Workington back into the match.

Facing the wind, Leigh - despite fine performances from newcomers Andy Bardsley and Juan Cabedo - had an uphill battle.

Inevitably, the defence crumbled and a series of penalties gave Workington the upper hand.

A final try wrapped it up, leaving Leigh a long journey home.

The 2nd XV scored a magnificent 13-10 win against Preston Grasshoppers with new skipper Ian Westwell scoring all his side's points from a try, conversion and two penalties.

Leigh face teams from Blackburn and Bury on Saturday.

1st XV (Blackburn, H): M Hudspith; I Wright, S Lee, D Wright, R Fletcher; P Lee, C Marsh; S Davies, S Young, T Westwell, S Haste, P Hampson, J Cabedo, A Bardsley, C Travers. Subs: C Cooney, D Darbyshire, C Hampson, P Hewitt.

A Team (Bury, H): From I Westwell (c), S Fitzmartin, N Dando, D Finn, J Hutchinson, M Parker, A Westwell, M Hilton, S Sale, C Leonard, C Innes, S Browning, P Clarke, G Lloyd Jnr, M Prescott, T Cartwright, D Penn, C Boardman.

Extra A (Bury, A): From C Hall, T Richard, R Lawson, J Will, T Ashurst, S Hollingsworth, L Schroeder, N Greenwood, N Hutchinson, R Vernel, S Middlehurst, J Mills, L Thomas, G Lloyd, M Hilton, S Harrison, J Krause, M Hillary, G Erskin, B Wright, P Gore, R Davies.

Tofts (Pool, A): From J Porteous, D Leake, P Appleton, G Egerton, G Norman, S Leyland, B Yates, G Miller, J Ramsell, S Riley, G Butler, G Marrow, J Holloway, D Hunter, G Vickers, R Hargreaves, I Smith, P Nugent, I Buckingham, K Pennington.

Vets (Pool, A): From S Taberner, P Bailey, M Lee, S Harper, S Culshaw, M Wood, N Hardy, T Trumble, S Jones, P Tustin, A Thompson, A Blackburn, D Taberner, D Phillips, S Ranson, L Pugsley, S Owen, J Heaton.

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