WINSTON SARSFIELD is back as No 1 in the National League.

The Leigh Miners winger swept in for a hat-trick of tries and banged over six goals to restore his lead as the league's top points scorer.

It came as Miners scored a confidence-boosting 40-22 win over Hemel Hempstead to pull away from the relegation zone.

Leaking defences provided tries galore - 11 in total - with Miners coasting to a quickfire lead, then letting it slip as the Southern battlers hit back.

Half-backs Stuart Pugsley and Mike Devine ran the show with props Mick Williamson, Jason Battersby and second row John Maxwell looking unstoppable.

Miners began well with tries for Sarsfield and Mike Evans.

After Ian Perriment had fashioned a try for Hemel, Miners again took charge with Sarsfield completing his treble and Maxwell going in under the posts.

The second half began just as well, Tony Dowling and Mike Warburton scoring fine tries.

Sarsfield's penalty made it 40-6...time for Hemel Hempstead to hit back.

Nothing could mask Miners' superiority. But it made for a frantic finale.

Miners A beat Woolston 33-4 to reach the North West Counties Cup semi-final.

Tries from Mick Farrimond 3, Ian Irwin, Alan Coleman and Steve Collier.

Miners Alliance lost 31-16 to Langworthy, the tries from Chris Travis, after a fine show, and Howard Newton. Good effort from Stuart Foster.

Results from the Burtonwood Brewery NWC ARL...Division One: Parkside Golborne 25 Wigan St Patricks 8; Division Three: Leigh East 34 Blackpool Stanley 24; Division Four: Leigh Harriers 26 Hindley 30; Division Six: Tarleton 11 Golborne Millstone 6.

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