LEIGH MR kick-started their New Year with an 18-6 win at Beverley.

Playing into the wind in the first half MR had to defend well and they did just that, loose forward Andy Collier leading the pack brilliantly.

They took the lead with a Mick Warburton penalty, Beverley edging back for 2-2.

Tough tactics from the home side meant injuries for MR but that brought in specialist goalkicker Winston Sarsfield on to the field and he soon put them back in front with a penalty.

On the half hour the weather worsened and Beverley took advantage of the gale.

Pressure on the MR line saw second row Lee Stretch and scrum-half Lee Lomax work tirelessly in defence.

But one pass too many saw the ball go to ground and winger Sarsfield raced 90 metres for a relieving touchdown and an 8-2 interval lead.

Direct from the re-start a MR knock-on saw Beverley score a try.

Miners nerves were jangling but sub forward Tony Dowling steadied the ship and Warburton's clearing kicks got extra distance with the elements.

Sarsfield settled the nerves with a penalty and, as confidence grew, Collier began to find gaps.

And it was that man Collier who sent Stuart Littler in for a TD and a 14-6 lead.

The telling break of the game came when sub hooker Ian Sanderson scooted 30 metres, sending Simon Wood away, who passed to Warburton and Lomax finished off the scoring with a try.

LATEST results from the NorthWest Counties ARL . . . Challenge Cup (4th round): Portico Panthers 12 Culcheth 16; Division Four: Leigh Harriers 4 Weaverham 28; Division Five: Leigh Royal Oak 26 Blackpool Scorpions 0.

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