Leigh East 46-30 Oldham St Annes

Leigh East moved up to 7th in NCL Division 2 after a great 2nd half display to beat Oldham St Annes at Ledgard Avenue.

It was the visitors that struck first on 5 minutes when Kendal Davies spotted a gap and dove over from close range, Kiel Lancashire kicked his first of 5 conversions to take the visitors 0-6 up.
Leigh East replied on 7 minutes when Ben Horan finished off a well worked move to score in the corner then Ryan O'Toole took the hosts into the lead on 10 minutes to take the scoreline to 8-6. Straight from the restart the Oldham side ment business and with the next attacking set it was Kendal Davies that once again spotted a gap to score, Lancashire added the conversion,8-12.

For the next 10 minutes the game was slowed down with the rain playing a big part in errors from both sides, but on 25 minutes Iain Jolley scored after a kick along the floor from Adam Holland in the corner.Holland then added the extras from the touchline, 14-12. Once again it was the visitors that stepped up another gear and on 30 minutes they took the lead again from Chris Bell hitting a good line and going clear from 20m out, Lancashire converted, 14-18.

It was only 5 minutes later that the visitors extended the lead to 10 points when Kendal Davies scored his third try and with Lancashire converting took the score to 14-24 at the interval.

For the first 5 minutes of the 2nd half both teams went close, but it was St Annes that seemed to run away with it after Michael Cadd burst over from close range, Lancashire converted and that was the final score from the visitors, 14-30. On 49 minutes Sam Grainey scored after another excellent kick from Holland before a quick fire double from the centre Dale Allred who crashed over, both converted by Holland to take the score to 32-30 in favour of the Leigh outfit. The hosts took full control of the game on 65 minutes when 80 minute impressive front rower Ryan O'Toole crashed over after beating 4 men on the way to the line, Holland converted before he then kicked a penalty goal on 75 minutes. Damon Fishwick sealed the game on the final whistle after hitting a brilliant line against the grain to complete the comeback and with Man of the Match Adam Holland converting, the final score was Leigh East 46-30 Oldham St Annes. The Man of the Match for the visitors went to Kiel Lancashire who led his team around the park well and was vocal throughout.

Leigh East: Horan, Holcroft, Grainey, Allred, Hunter, Penn, Holland, O'Toole, Cahill, Weaving, Fletcher, Rowley, Fishwick Subs: Grundy, Jolley, Roden, Fryer.
Tries: Allred 2, O'Toole 2, Horan, Grainey, Fishwick, Jolley. Goals: Holland 7

Oldham St Annes: Bryan, Collins, Worrall, Bell, Swane, Lancashire, Lees, Topping, Davies, Fields, Carter, Igoe, J Deakin Subs: Sweeney, Smith, P Deakin, Cadd.
Tries: Davies 3, Bell, Cadd. Goals: Lancashire 5

Half time: 14-24
Referee: Richard Griffiths
Players of the match: Adam Holland (Leigh East), Kiel Lancashire (Oldham St Annes)

Well done Easts.