Oldham St Annes 27

Leigh Miners Rangers 20 MINERS Rangers crashed to a second successive away defeat as Oldham St Annes gave every indication that the battle for the top five will go right to the wire.

In the mud and gloom of Higginshaw Road, both sides produced fully committed displays with some sparkling rugby, but the Miners will point out to some refereeing decisions, most notably offsides where they were penalised 5-0, that could have swayed the game.

At least four of the tries - two to each side - were also controversial, although Lee Charlesworth opener on 10 minutes was more down to slack defending.

But Miners hit back when Mark Sarsfield crossed with Saints appealing for a forward pass, Mark Hudspith converted. Saints led at the break though with Mark Graham bouncing over and Rick Badby adding two goals.

Two tries in 10 minutes after the break turned the game in Leigh Miners favour. First Hudspith's grubber bobbled over prone full-back Chris Wright for Sarsfield to score his second.

If Wright thought that was his worst moment of the match he was soon forced to revise that opinion. Hudspith's bomb would have been difficult to deal with anyway but when Kieron Deakin added his unwitting help, Wright was stranded in no-man's land and Sean Phoenix gleefully raced in for a try and a 20-14.

Saints roared back and Miners were struggling to hang on. Australian Ian Schifillitti crashed in to level the scores and as Leigh head dropped the influential Badby nudged his side ahead with a field goal.

In injury time the scoreline was give a splash of unfair Saints' gloss when man of the match Steve Crowther bundled over in chaotic circumstances and Badby added his fifth goal.

Tomorrow the Miners end their home campaign when they entertain a Thornhill side searching for a seventh straight win. Kick off at Twist Lane is 2.30pm.