Leigh Miners Rangers 25

Leigh East 23

MINERS Rangers lifted the Champion of Champions Grainey Trophy for the first time since 1977 - but only just!

Arch-rivals Leigh East must have thought the prestigious pre-season trophy was on it's way back to Grasmere Street for the third successive year as they built up a 23-18 lead with less than 10 minutes left.

But with the clock ticking down the Miners snatched the honours with a try, touchline conversion and field goal to break the hearts of 12-man East.

East were left a man short when full-back Darren Hall was sent off following a 34th minute punch-up. East's Mick German and Miners' Chris Flynn were sin-binned for their part in the dust-up.

East took the lead as early as the fourth minute when second rower Lee Wingfield shimmied his way over and Tony Gredecki converted. It was all square on 12 minutes when Hall lost the ball in a Steve Flannery tackle over the line and Sean Phoenix was on the spot to score a try that Mark Hudspith converted.

Hudspith added a penalty soon afterwards but East were back in front on the half hour when man of the match John Gunning ushered Mark Kay in for 10-8.

Hudspith added another penalty but East went in for the break just ahead when Phoenix's wild pass was picked off by Lee Penkywicz who sprinted 60 metres for a Gredecki converted try.

Miners got themselves back into it two minutes into the second half when Hudspith raced in but when Wingfield Galloped in for his second and Gunning popped over a field goal, East had a handy seven point lead.

Miners stand-off James Arkwright cleverly sent full-back Matt Irwin over but when East sub John Woods knocked over a penalty, Steve Grimshaw's side were ahead 23-18.

Just a couple of minutes from time Miners sub Lee Lomax burrowed his way over at the corner and Hudspith nudged his side in front with a magnificent touchline conversion. Hudspith made sure the trophy was on it's way to Twist Lane with an injury time field goal.

Both teams start their National Conference Premier Division campaigns tomorrow. The Miners are at home to Castleford Lock Lane while East travel to Wigan St Patrick's. Both matches kick off at 2.30pm.