LEIGH Miners Rangers exited the Coral Challenge Cup as Thatto Heath Crusaders demonstrated the quality of the top end of the NCL Premier Division with this 36-6 triumph.
A dominant first half which saw Heath leading 26-6 after a flurry of tries midway through the half left Miners with too much of a mountain to climb and whilst they successfully limited the damage after the break their hopes of a cup run had come to an end.
With the league season on the near horizon there is one last opportunity for game time and it comes with the return of a much-loved competition as the Lloyd Pugsley Memorial Matches take place on Saturday 16th at Leigh East, remembering sadly missed stalwarts from both Miners and East and raising funds for local junior rugby.
The games include fixtures for under-18s, Alliance, first team and Masters and take place at Ledgard Avenue from 1pm.
There was cup joy for the under-18s and under-16s as both progressed in the National Cup, the under-18s defeating Westhoughton in a miry midweek derby whilst the under-16s enjoyed derby success of their own against Wigan St Patricks.
The under-16s now host Shaw Cross whilst the under-18s will travel to the winners of Kells and Oulton.
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