LEIGH EAST are the town's Top Gunns! They produced a sensational performance to leave host club and hot favourites Leigh Miners blitzed and beaten in Saturday's Champions Challenge Final.

Half-back brothers Phil and John Gunning ran the shock show for the Grasmere Street outfit as they romped to a thumping 31-12 victory.

And they were ably supported by hooker Gary Fletcher who picked up the MOM award.

East, the surprise finalists, were expected to be little more than canon-fodder for MR's big guns.

But, apart from some early warning shots, Miners were firing blanks.

Eastern promise of No Surrender came good with top-notch performances from U18s prop Stephen Tooze, playing his first game at senior level, from centre Sam Horne, partnering skipper David Kay in the second row, from full-back Anthony Gredecki, playing at loose-forward, from U18 Michael Redford, who had a sterling game at full-back.

Miners scored first, Danny Flannery touching down out wide on six minutes. The lead was short-lived, however, as centre Darren Hall ran on to a kick from stand-off John Gunning to level the scores.

Mark Sarsfield's try on 25 minutes edged Miners ahead for the second and final time, but minutes later John Gunning scampered over from 10 metres to level it again.

The killer try came on half-time when Fletcher spread the ball out wide for Lee Penkywkz to score for a 12-8 lead.

From the re-start the Gunning brothers took control, quickly sending Redford in for a TD.

A Miners revival looked on the cards when ex-Leigh prop Mark Meadows sent Mick Warburton in for a score.

But the fightback was stuffed when East's veteran forward Gary Grainey scored from close-range.

MR should have taken advantage when East centre Darren Hall was sent off, but that seemed to inspire the underdogs, who added a one pointer from John Gunning and a try from Horne.

Late on centre Tim Fletcher capped a memorable win with the final try of a memorable match.

Then (pictured) came ecstatic celebrations!

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.