WIND, rain and Dewsbury Celtic combined to send Leigh East to a 16-12 defeat, their second of the season after a fully absorbing game on a muddy pitch.

The hosts made the better start when stand-off George Senior slipped through for halfback partner Charlie Heaton to goal.

The scoreline remained unchanged for almost twenty minutes as the packs battled for supremacy. Joe Togher played a fine opening whiled Adam Wilkes and Louis Else were also effective and Zac Nicholls was never far from the action.

East saw two Danny Griffiths tries disallowed as they took a stranglehold but did eventually claim points when Harvey Massey slid a low kick behind the line and centre Ellis Noon ran through to splashdown.

Adam Holland made light of the conditions with a well-struck conversion and East continued to dominate after half-time.

A rampaging run from Else set the position and the home defence finally wilted when the prop forward burst over after good work from Nicholls. Again Holland goaled to make it 12-6. Things turned around minutes later as Celtic used the breeze and conditions to their advantage to trap East within their own half.

The tactic paid off as former Batley man Danny Thomas beat several defenders from dummy half to touch down and Heaton goaled.

Then just two minutes later, the hosts struck from halfway with a flowing move down the short side that saw left centre Joe Walton score.

The goal was missed but with the scoreboard now in their favour a hungry Celtic denied East time after time with punishing tackling and even missed two penalties as they ran down the clock to a narrow win.