Leigh Miners 40 v 6 Underbank Rangers

Leigh Miners made it through to the second round of the Conference Challenge Trophy on Saturday afternoon when they beat a spirited Underbank Rangers side 40-6 on a wet day at Twist Lane. Miners making four changes from the Wath Brow win the week before, with Shaun Dowie, Ellis Grimes, Jack Probert and Jonny Youds coming in for Matt Astley, Chris Bowers, Tony Doyle and Bud Skinkis.

The home side made the perfect start when they scored inside the opening couple of minutes, Brad Hargreaves making a break down the left to send in stand off Shaun Dowie to score, Jonny Youds adding the extras to make it 6-0. Miners where in again a few minutes later when Hargreaves again made a break down the left, getting tackled 10m out which allowed Miners to shift the ball quickly across to the right to put in Adam Thomason into score in the corner, Youds converting to give the score 12-0. After starting brightly Miners went away from what they was doing well for the remainder of the first half, but credit must go to Underbank who battled hard throughout the eighty minutes and gave a good account of themselves. Scoring right on half time when they capitalised on a Miners knock on, Will Midgley strolling under the sticks to score, Joel Crocker converting to give the half time score 12-6.

In the second half, although Miners where not at their best they took control of the game to cement a place in the last sixteen. Brad Hargreaves who was a constant threat throughout on the left edge, scored a double inside the opening fifteen minutes of the second period, Youds converting both tries to open up a eighteen point lead with the score at 24-6. Jimmy Muir scored a fifth home try from a well worked scrum move, with two further tries following in the final ten minutes from winger Harry Gagen and Shaun Dowie who scored his second of the afternoon, Youds converting both tries to give the final score 40-6.

The draw for the second round takes place on Thursday evening.

Miners are away this coming Saturday at Egremont Rangers.

MINERS TEAM = Jonny Youds, Harry Gagen, Brad Hargreaves, Adam Thomason, Jack Probert, Shaun Dowie, Scott O'Brien, Martin Gray, Danny Jones, Darryl Kay, Tommy Parkinson, Danny Jackson,Connor Ratcliffe, Subs = Jimmy Muir, Mark Nicholson, Ellis Grimes, Mike O'Boyle

MINERS MOM = Shaun Dowie

UNDERBANK TEAM = Will Midgley, Remone Notman, Alex Chatterton, Courtney Allette, Jon Tinker, Joel Croker, Chris Druett, Dave Valentine, Stephen Berry, Dan Farrand, Mitch Turner, Kurt Selmes, Luke Karolczuk, Subs = Richard Pogson, Liam Donlon, Will England, Luke Nelmes

UNDERBANK MOM = Stephen Berry

The u18s lost 44-4 on Sunday away at Rochdale Mayfield.

Sounds like a good win for Miners, well done. What's the format of the Challenge Trophy, know it's a knock out competition with the final on Championships Finals day but can't find any information about it anywhere. How many teams compete & who, is it just a straight draw or seeded in any way, do different divisions come in at different times, how many rounds are there? Can't seem to find anything about it as a compertition online.

The Conference Challenge Trophy is for NCL clubs, it is optional and 32 clubs entered this year with the first round being played last weekend. 16 teams in the second round draw which takes place in Thursday, then obviously QF, SF, Final

I have said it plenty of times before, I don't know why all sides don't enter when you only get two chances of winning silverware each year

I don't know but I guess there is a fee to enter and then travelling costs could potentially add up with the wrong away tie? Maybe some clubs budgets don't stretch far enough and maybe their income streams and infrastructures aren't as good as The Miners and some other of the club's.

Does show a little lack of ambition though,success in a cup can bring it's rewards on and off the field.

Thanks. Does seem odd especially now that if you win it you get a chance at the League 1 clubs in that League 1 cup. Was a shame both amateur got such hard draws, was looking forward to seeing how they did against a lower League 1 club. Had to wait for Miners V Oxford in the Challenge Cup instead

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