THE chill wind blowing off the Humber brought an ill message for troubled Leigh MR.

They returned empty-handed from Skirlaugh, their bad form underlined in a 26-10 defeat.

Yet it all began so well with Miners matching the all-action starters, second row Paul Daniels involved in most of their best moments.

But they failed to convert pressure into points. Sean Kelly and Steve McCully strove to hold ground, Howard Newton looked good but met a steel defence.

And suddenly they were down 12-0 by the break, 18-0 shortly afterwards.

Sub hooker Darren Mort gave MR heart as they staged a recovery and Alan Coleman's clever kick was fingertipped dead.

From the drop-out Daniels and Mike Morris created the gap for Peter Sharp to score, Coleman goaling.

Any hint of a revival was quickly stuffed as Skirlaugh quickly increased their lead. But Miners had the final word, Steve Flannery taking the ball into enemy territory, Morris sending wing Richard Henare dashing in from 40 metres.

Then came a solid wall of defence. And a long and weary way home.

RESULTS from the NorthWest Counties ARL . . . Division Two: Rylands 6 Hindley 23; Alliance: Leigh MR 16 Spotland Rangers 14.

LEIGH EAST U7s lost 44-16 to Ryland Sharks (MoM S Grainey; TT T Kay, with the coaches award shared by M Joyce and G Parkinson.

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