Leigh East 32 Shaw Cross 22 A TIMELY 25th minute substitution put the brakes on a Leigh East side that was spinning headlong towards a second successive Conference League Division One defeat.

Twenty minutes into the game and the East were 16-0 down to previously unbeaten Shaw Cross and looked unlikely to salvage anything from the game.

They had squandered their limited possession and even when James Macaree put Lee Penkywicz over after a break from Mick Redford, Tony Gredecki adding the extras, their seemed little chance of pulling the game back. East even went further behind when Matt Leo kicked a penalty for the visitors.

But the introduction of John Gunning injected some much-needed creativity into East's play. With Stephen Tooze and Mick German tightening things up in the middle, the stage was set for an East revival.

Within two minutes Gunning had made an impact, sending out a perfect pass for Darren Hall to swoop and make the half time score 10-18.

Sixty seconds after the restart East were back to within two points when German and Gunning combined and Gary Fletcher burst through to score. Four minutes later East were ahead for the first time when Hall grabbed his second, Gredecki converting both. Soon afterwards Redford scampered over off Gredecki and East led 26-18.

East's line was bombarded by Shaw Cross. They were held up over the line three times but after a 36-tackle defensive spell, Burland squeezed over.

But a knock on from the kick off saw Redford ounce on a loose ball to score his second, Gredecki adding the extras and cementing a fine East recovery.

Tomorrow, East are away to Rochdale Mayfield.

The second team remain unbeaten and stay top of Division Five after holding on for a 21-14 win at Rylands.

East stormed into a 20-4 half time lead with tries from player-coach Bob Hoey, Chris Penkywicz and Chris Snape with Austin Monks adding four goals.

But in the second half concentration and communication slipped away with only a Monks drop goal increasing their score. Defensively, however, East impressed with the three man of the match awards going to Gary Molyneux, Justin Ganley and Hoey.

East are at home to Mayfield tomorrow, kick off 2.30pm.