LEIGH RU gave it their best shot - but they came a copper at Merseyside Police.

They went down battling at 32-27, always chasing after surprising the home side by going ahead on a Bullough kick-ahead and touchdown.

The Police then forged clear to the interval, Leigh's only relief a penalty just before the break.

They began the second period at great pace, but handling errors let them down and MP surged ahead for a flattering 26-8 lead.

But resolute Leigh bounced back when Wright crossed for the TD; soon after P Lee ran in from 60 yards, Bullough converting.

Wright's second try, again goaled by Bullough, edged them within two points; a silly penalty finally gave it away, the ball rebounding in off a post.

The Tofts drew 21-21 in a thriller at Lymm. Norman jinked in for the first try, then Smith shot in in space created by decoy Barnes.

Lymm, however, looked to have it won until Norman burst in for his second try leaving Porteous to bang over his third goal and bag a dramatic draw.

Minis & Juniors...U12s lost 21-7 to Eccles (Thomas Andrews); U11s beat Eccles 40-21 (Vernell 2, Crompton, Pirrie, Kelly, Gwilliam; fine play from Adam Sutcliffe and Peter Taylor); U9s drew 10-10 with Eccles (Hammond, Adams); U8s had three matches with Eccles, drawing 10-10, winning 20-15 and 15-10 (MoM Christopher Fiendley 4, Martyn Hall 2, Dale Parkinson, Alex Marrow, David Sale).

TYLDESLEY RU scored a superb 15-9 win against top-of-the-table Trafford.

An injury-ravaged team did the club proud, none better than outstanding full-back Steve Palin.

They began well with a Dave Sivill penalty, then some ferocious tackling kept the visitors out before Kerr's tackle set up Sivill for a try.

Tyldesley forwards Edge, Shotton and Berrisford had great games, and prop Hughes settled it with the side's second TD, goaled by Sivill.

They will be looking for more of the same on Saturday when they travel to Keswick.

ATHERTON RU stepped down a class and whacked Old Aldwinians 69-8.

The romp was led by winger Ian O'Donnell, who swept in for four tries, while there was a hat-trick for Ben Sutton, Gary Bleakley two and there was one each for Martin Cleary and Kerryn Johnson. Ian Lysons banged over seven conversions.

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