Leigh East ARLFC started their challenge cup campaign against a tough and well drilled British Army side on Saturday. It was the Army that got the game started the game with a deep kick off which east returned well, the first 5 minutes belonged to East, building pressure but the Army were equal to everything.
The first try of the game came on 16 minutes from good vision behind the ruck from Kerrod Selmes spotting a weak defender to dive over, Selmes converted his own try. East only had the lead for 3 minutes as the Army followed up a good kick and Jamie Millburn picked the pocket of winger Iain Jolley Ripping the ball 2 yard from his own line to score, Danny Hunter with the conversion, 6-6.
The Army took the lead on 31 minuted after some good build up play and halfback Danny Hunter spotted a gap to slide over the whitewash and convert his own try. East continued to build pressure just before half time but unable to seel their efforts with a try until halfback Adam Holland spotted winger Tim Tamani out of position, put a chip chick over for Gavin Hunter to finish in the corner from 40 yards. Selmes was unsucessfull with the conversion attemp to bring up the half time score of Leigh East 10-12 British Army.

East kicked off the 2nd half and forced the error on the 3rd tackle and in the following set James noon finished off a well worked move down the left edge after Jacob Kinney drew in 3 defenders before putting skipper Lee Rowley through the gap and all he had to do was pass it onto the centre to finish, Selmes converted, 16-12.
East were let off the hook on a couple of occasions after good scrambling defence and errors from the Army and it went from bad to worse when East went down to 12 men after Dean Balmer was sent from the field for a high tackle.
With backs against the wall east continued to force errors and James Noon went over for his 2nd try after a nice swift pass from Ryan Peters, Selmes with the conversion to extend Leigh Easts lead to 22-12. East went further in front with James noon once again getting some space and powering his way over, Selmes converted, 28-12.
The Army got theirselves back in the game on 69 minutes with halfback Danny Hunter jinking his way to his 2nd try of the game and added the extras.
The Army threw everything including the kitchen sink at East to try and get over the line and it came off when halfback pushed up in support and went over, Hunters conversion was the last touch of the game to see Leigh East go into the hat for the next round.

That's a pretty big axe you've got to grind!

Well done to East (and Miners) - let's hope they get rewarded with a good draw tomorrow.

Thats the problem with being a moderator Lynda you always have to post with a mods hat on, another reason why I packed it in.

There are some BIG problems down at Leigh East with the passions of ex stalwarts, ex players and ex supporters who all cared deeply for the club still running high.

Leigh East should be one of the leading amateur clubs in the country , instead they seem to lurch from one shambles to another. (Incredibly the people responsible for the 'Skirlaugh gate' debacle are in the main still presiding on the commitee)

It's a shame what has happened to that club and saddest part of it all is that The Committee appear completely oblivious to it all.

Quote ="Harold Rigby Jnr"There are some BIG problems down at Leigh East with the passions of ex stalwarts, ex players and ex supporters who all cared deeply for the club still running high. Leigh East should be one of the leading amateur clubs in the country , instead they seem to lurch from one shambles to another. (Incredibly the people responsible for the 'Skirlaugh gate' debacle are in the main still presiding on the commitee) It's a shame what has happened to that club and saddest part of it all is that The Committee appear completely oblivious to it all.'" When a team goes from being European champions to NCL Division 2 chumps in the space of 2 years , It's obvious there's trouble at't mill when 30 odd players walk out because of lack of confidence in whatever direction the club is spiraling to and zero confidence in the coach and only Phil Johnson had the decency to fall on his sword and resign over the Skirlaughgate fiasco ......... What was the solution ? have a slag off meeting with the players and ignore their concerns and then invite the problems wife on to the committee and adopt a pollit bureau vow of silence approach and refuse to give the members any answers . Just in the last few months an unellected committee has cancelled 2 AGM's ........ November 5th and February 28th being 2 off the top of my head , and yet they continue this death dive to take the club into oblivion . R.I.P Leigh East ..... It's been a blast ......C'mon Hilton Park the nearest we've left of the real Leigh East ...sad really innit ! Now this a web site puppet www.pitchero.com/clubs/hiltonpar ... 80289.html

Quote ="Harold Rigby Jnr"There are some BIG problems down at Leigh East with the passions of ex stalwarts, ex players and ex supporters who all cared deeply for the club still running high. Leigh East should be one of the leading amateur clubs in the country , instead they seem to lurch from one shambles to another. (Incredibly the people responsible for the 'Skirlaugh gate' debacle are in the main still presiding on the commitee) It's a shame what has happened to that club and saddest part of it all is that The Committee appear completely oblivious to it all.'" When a team goes from being European champions to NCL Division 2 chumps in the space of 2 years , It's obvious there's trouble at't mill when 30 odd players walk out because of lack of confidence in whatever direction the club is spiraling to and zero confidence in the coach and only Phil Johnson had the decency to fall on his sword and resign over the Skirlaughgate fiasco ......... What was the solution ? have a slag off meeting with the players and ignore their concerns and then invite the problems wife on to the committee and adopt a pollit bureau vow of silence approach and refuse to give the members any answers . Just in the last few months an unellected committee has cancelled 2 AGM's ........ November 5th and February 28th being 2 off the top of my head , and yet they continue this death dive to take the club into oblivion . R.I.P Leigh East ..... It's been a blast ......C'mon Hilton Park the nearest we've left of the real Leigh East ...sad really innit ! Now this a web site puppet www.pitchero.com/clubs/hiltonpar ... 80289.html

30 odd players? We're are you collecting this info from, I think what you need to do is give you head a wobble and start thinking what you say on public forums, as for 2 cancelled meetings once again were is this info from as if you hadn't already heard the AGM'S took place on the 25th February at Leigh East, can't really grumble if you didn't turn up to an open members meeting. Was looking forward to bringing a few things up in person last night but u wasn't there, maybe next time