Leigh East 21 Siddal 10: LEIGH East produced a superb display of quality rugby to topple Premier Division leaders Siddal and boost their own chances of a top six play-off finish.

It was a game which had everything that is good about rugby league - fast, open and exciting attacking play, individual flair, commitment and tough but fair tackling.

Siddal are favourites to retain the Minor Championship and certainly looked like title-chasing material. But Leigh East matched them - and at times bettered them - in a superb display of skill, effort and teamwork.

Half backs John Gunning and Danny Kilshaw, whose tremendous personal ability set up two tries and earned him the Man of the Match award, were the brains behind this East victory.

But there was much more to this victory. East's forwards were outstanding, despite the efforts of Siddal prop Wrigley and player coach Shaw, with Whiteside, Starkie and Taylor in top form. Try saving tackles from Whiteside and Kay at crucial points of the game kept East's line intact and once again John Woods, surely the top centre in the division at the moment, made a major contribution with two tries and four long distance goals.

The first half was tight with the half time score standing at 4-3 in Siddal's favour.

Woods opened the scoring with a penalty then Kilshaw knocked over a drop goal after drives from Stephens, Whiteside and Rowson had given him the strategic position. Siddal's reply was a try from winger Gracey after one of East's few defensive lapses of the afternoon.

There was less than a minute on the clock in the second half when East restored their lead with a try which would have graced any game. Woods took possession in his own half, Rowson's strong running took play deep up field, Kay handled on and then when Kilshaw shimmied away from the defence Warhurst was on hand to score a superb team try.

Woods goaled from the touchline then seven minutes later added the goal to his own try after more good work from Kilshaw. Blackburn touched down for Siddal and added the goal to close the gap to five points but East made sure when Whiteside made the initial running for Warhurst to send Woods in again.

Woods missed this kick but made no mistake minutes later with a penalty goal from 45 yards when Kilshaw was tackled off the ball.

In midweek East beat Wigan St Pat's 23-12 with tries from Simon Stephens, John Woods and Liam Rowson with Woods adding five goals and Mick Whiteside a field goal.