LEIGH MR bowed out of the BNFL National Cup in heartbreaking fashion.

They were stung 24-23 by Wath Brow Hornets, a drop goal after 100 minutes settling this pulsating tie.

Miners were frustrated all afternoon by the Cumbrians strong running and the referee's whistle.

But, with Alan Coleman and Paul Daniels always dangerous, they edged ahead, Micky Morris slipping the ball clear for Mark Sarsfield to score.

Wath Brow bounced back to sit comfortably in control at 10-4, but Matt Irwin's TD and two Coleman penalties gave MR the initiative.

It was, however, always going to be tight. At 80 minutes they were level on 16-16, Howard Newton's cutting run and touchdown the equaliser.

MR went ahead in extra-time, Mark Sarsfield intercepting and dashing 60 metres for the try, Coleman goaling. Back came Hornets, level again.

A Coleman drop gave MR a tense one-point advantage; the replying was quick. Level again.

But there were no comebacks at the death. With the ref checking his clock, Gavin Curwen hit the decisive drop. It sailed between the sticks as the whistle blew.

Heartbreak!

SCORES from the NorthWest Counties ARL . . . Division One: Leigh MR 14 Ulverston 25, Parkside Golborne 40 Widnes Albert 0; Division Two: Hindley 8 Latchford Albion 18; Division Five: Culcheth Eagles 32 UGB 12; Division 6A: Leigh East 6 Folly Lane A 12; Alliance Division: West Bank 20 Parkside Golborne 13, Heysham Atoms 18 Leigh MR 0.

LEIGH East U9s (Tigers) beat Chorley Borough 38-36 (Daniel Weaving 4, Ben Taylor, Adam Russell, Andrew Keating; MoM Karl Morris); U8s beat Wigan St Jude's 28-16 (MoM David Hodgson 2, Matthew Rozman 2, Ben Hanson, Daniel Yarwood, Jordan Monks); U7s beat Portico Panethers 32-20.

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