LEIGH MR went down 19-18 to a last-gasp try against Askam.

In a game they should have won, they were leading 18-13 with seconds to go.

But the game was really lost in the opening seven minutes as they tumbled thirteen points down; they dug deep to claw their way back with a try from Matt Irwin after good work from Tony Dowling and Peter Sharp.

Irwin scored again just before the break, Chris Wilkinson goaling, and soon after winger Paul Shepherd touched down to push his side one point ahead.

Half-backs Wilkinson and Alan Coleman began to find their rhythm and centre Mick Morris steamed in for a TD and what looked like a winning score.

But the Cumbrians found another gear - and a match-winning try.

Saturday's visit of Thornhill gives MR the chance to get vital league points after disappointing defeats.

MR's U18s team are one win away from the National Cup Final.

They sailed into the semis with a crushing 46-6 victory over Blackbrook.

Tries from Paul Redford 2, John Gotheridge, Dickenson, Hartley, Thompson, Gorski and Halliwell.

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