LEIGH Miners Rangers are on a roll!

And the rest of the league should take note after they comprehensively beat Castleford Lock Lane 38-14.

Even without county back rower Stuart Littler and other forwards Casey and Collier, MR had too much fire power up front.

But it was the backs that got off to a flyer. Scrum half Mike Devine chipped in to space for winger Matt Irwin to score out wide after just three minutes.

MR bombarded Lane's line with second rowers McCully and Stretch gaining valuable yards.

Winston Sarsfield hit a penalty before the Yorkshiremen rallied.

Player coach, ex- GB prop Keith England led their best spell of the game when they scored two tries and a goal for a 10-6 lead.

MR soon regained momentum after crunching tackles from hooker Ian Sanderson and darting runs from prop Mark Edwards.

Stand off Mike Warburton started dictating play and after a Lane fumble sub-forward Shane Hindley touched down. Sarsfield added the goal.

In the closing seconds of the half, centre Damien Jackson sent winger Sarsfield 80 metres under the posts for a converted try.

From the re-start Miners were super charged. Matt Irwin ran 50 yards, passed to Devine, who sent Warburton in for a great score. Sarsfield added the goal for a 24-10 lead.

Aggression surfaced and two players were sent to the sin bin, one from each side, Devine for MR.

Miners' defence reigned supreme, skipper Neil McColloch led by example with some bone-crushing tackles in the middle of the park.

Warburton opened up the Lane defence with a grubber kick that led to a mistake inches from the line.

From the scrum Lane killed the flow and Sarsfield hit a penalty.

With confidence flowing Stretch, McCully and Jackson set up a try for Sanderson. And Sarsfield made it six out of six with the goal.

Good work from Mark Edwards, subs Andy Robinson and Paul Shepherd, saw a kick from Warburton put the visitors in more trouble, and Devine grabbed a deserved touch down. Sarsfield hit the goal for a 100% record on the day.

The last touch of the game saw Lane score a consolation try.

This win sets up a mouth-watering clash with top of the table Oldham St Anne's on Saturday.

LEIGH MR's junior section (12-16 years) is on the look out for new players.

Anyone interested should ring Trevor Barton on 0161 737 9990, or turn up for training any Sunday morning at the clubhouse, opposite Bedford High School, Manchester Road.

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