Leigh East 18

Rochdale Mayfield 13 LEIGH East gained one of their most important victories of the season when they beat fellow Conference Division One hopefuls Rochdale Mayfield.

It turned out to be a game worth of the division's top two teams; keenly contested full of good rugby and with the result in doubt right to the final whistle.

Mayfield had the bigger pack but it didn't deter East's second rowers, man of the match Aldred and German, substitute Wingfield and prop Sanderson. Mayfield had a major player in stand-off Adam Law but overall could not match East's pace and skill in the backs where strapping centre Mick Redford was particularly outstanding.

It was Redford who opened the scoring in the eighth minute, striding out of two tackles to finish with a flourish under the posts, Gredecki tagging on the extra points.

It was just the start East wanted but the celebrations were short-lived as East lost the ball from the re-start, then missed two tackles to allow Hilton to score. Law converted and added a drop goal to put the visitors 7-6 ahead.

East restored their lead on the half hour when Wingfield finished off a good attacking move from deep inside their own half, Gredecki adding the goal for a 12-7 half time lead.

Five minutes into the second half Darren Hall scrambled through the defence for a try, John Gunning adding the goal to put East in a fairly comfortable position. But Mayfield had a lot of second half possession and East were forced to pull out all the stops to keep them out.

There was some superb tackling from the home side before a slip in the 73rd minute gave Law the opportunity to score Mayfield's second converted try. Despite more heavy pressure from Mayfield, East held out.