TWO rugby fans were taken to hospital after a fight broke out following a cup clash between Leigh and Salford yesterday.

Rival fans were involved in a mass brawl, in which bottles and glasses were thrown, at the Moonraker Pub in King Street in Leigh at 8.30pm.

The two injured fans were taken to the Royal Bolton Hospital with cuts to the head.

The fight broke out after a group of Salford fans were earlier thrown out of the Waterside Pub in nearby Canal Street. Around 20 visiting Salford supporters then went into the Moonraker before reportedly provoking the fight with a group of Leigh fans.

Fighting continued outside the pub until the police arrived to break up the rival groups.

The disturbance followed the 16-12 victory by Leigh over Salford in the fourth round Silk Cup Challenge clash at Hilton Park, the first time in four years a non-Superleague club has triumphed over top flight opposition. A crowd of 6,000 watched the match which kicked off at 1.45pm. There were no other reports of trouble.