Leigh Miners Rangers 46 West Bowling 6: LEIGH Miners Rangers plunged struggling West Bowling into deeper trouble as they claimed top spot in the National Conference League with a crushing nine-try victory.

The Miners were made to work hard for their 16-6 half time lead, but in the second half superior firepower buried the visitors under a landslide of tries.

Dave Patterson led the way for the Miners, the second rower scoring two fine tries and coming up with a try-saving tackle that underlined his international qualities.

Both sides spurned early chances, Alan Reddicliffe and Mark Dunning both knocking on in scoring positions, before Paul Redford broke down the right and his deft reverse pass sent Simon Unsworth under the posts for a six-pointer.

The lead was doubled six minutes later when Patterson burst from the base of the scrum and stormed under the posts.

Bowling cut the deficit with a converted try before Shaun Daley scored the best try of the game, a searing touchline run that covered 70 metres.

Daley was in again for his second try early in the second half but it was only in the final quarter that the Miners really turned up the heat.

Unsworth claimed his second, as did Patterson, before Chris Dootson, Reddicliffe and Tommy Goulden rounded off a satisfactory day for the Miners.